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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
general
COVID-19 outbreak control strategies and their impact on the provision of essential health services in Ghana: An exploratorysequential study
PLoS ONE, Volume 18, No. 11 November, Article e0279528, Year 2023
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Description
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to substantial interruptions in critical health services, with 90% of countries reporting interruptions in routine vaccinations, maternal health care and chronic disease management. The use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as lockdowns and self-isolation had implications on the provision of essential health services (EHS). We investigated exemplary COVID-19 outbreak control strategies and explored the extent to which the adoption of these NPIs affected the provision of EHS including immunization coverage and facility-based deliveries. Finally, we document core health system strategies and practices adopted to maintain EHS during the early phase of the pandemic. Methods This study used an explanatory sequential study design. First, we utilized data from routine health management information systems to quantify the impact of the pandemic on the provision of EHS using interrupted time series models. Second, we explored exemplary strategies and health system initiatives that were adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections while maintaining the provision of EHS using in-depth interviews with key informants including policymakers and healthcare providers. Results The COVID-19 pandemic and the interventions that were implemented disrupted the provision of EHS. In the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oral Polio and pentavalent vaccination coverage reduced by 15.2% [95% CI =-22.61,-7.87, p<0.001] and 12.4% [95% CI = 17.68,-7.13; p<0.001] respectively. The exemplary strategies adopted in maintaining the provision of EHS while also responding to the spread of infections include the development of new policy guidelines that were disseminated with modified service delivery models, new treatment and prevention guidelines, the use of telemedicine and medical drones to provide EHS and facilitate rapid testing of suspected cases. Conclusion The implementation of different NPIs during the peak phase of the pandemic disrupted the provision of EHS. However, the Ministry of Health leveraged the resilient health system and deployed efficient, all-inclusive, and integrated infectious disease management and infection prevention control strategies to maintain the provision of EHS while responding to the spread of infections. Copyright: © 2023 Dwomoh et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Dwomoh, Duah
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Yeboah, Isaac
Ghana, Accra
Csir - Institute for Scientific and Technological Information
Ndejjo, Rawlance
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Kabwama, Steven Ndugwa
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Aheto, Justice Moses K.
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Lazenby, Siobhan
United States, Kirkland
Gates Ventures
Ohemeng, Fidelia Nana Akom
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Takyi, Sylvia Akpene
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Issah, Ibrahim
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Bawuah, Serwaa Akoto
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Wanyenze, Rhoda Kitti
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Fobil, Julius Najah
Ghana, Accra
University of Ghana
Statistics
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0279528
ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Covid
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Descriptive Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Ghana