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  2. Vol 28, No 3 (2024)
  3. Kamondo

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health care services in Kiambu County, Kenya

Davis Kamondo(1), Magoma Mwancha-Kwasa(2), Moses Kamita(3), Caroline Mwangi(4), Maxwell Murage(5), Prabhjot K. Juttla(6), Daniel Gicheru(7), Jesse Gitaka(8),


(1) Department of Health Services, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, Kiambu, Kenya
(2) Department of Health Services, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, Kiambu, Kenya
(3) Department of Research and Innovation, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya
(4) Department of Health Services, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, Kiambu, Kenya
(5) Department of Health Services, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, Kiambu, Kenya
(6) Department of Health Services, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, Kiambu, Kenya
(7) Department of Health Services, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, Kiambu, Kenya
(8) Department of Research and Innovation, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya
Corresponding Author

Abstract


The global response to COVID-19 undermined established public health goals. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health (RMNCH) services in Kiambu County, Kenya. It was a retrospective crosssectional study, where data on antenatal care (ANC), delivery, postnatal care (PNC), and family planning (FP) before and after COVID-19 was retrieved and compared. New ANC clients and 4th ANC visits decreased by 2.9% and 17% respectively. New clients attending PNC increased by 13.3% (p = 0.007). Skilled deliveries reduced by 0.3%, maternal, neonatal deaths, and fresh stillbirths reduced by 0.7%, 23.9%, and 15.8% respectively. Caesarean sections rose by 12.7% (p=0.001). New clients and revisits for family planning reduced by 15.4% and 6.6% respectively. The pandemic adversely affected most of the RMNCH services. There is a need for health departments to institute robust strategies to recover the gains lost during COVID-19. (Afr J Reprod Health 2024; 28 [3]: 20-29).

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