Abstract
BackgroundThe novel coronavirus pandemic has killed millions of people globally while significantly destroying the social, economic, and political wellbeing of people. The global pandemic has negatively impacted pregnant women's access to prenatal care. The current study sought to understand the health-seeking behaviour of women who were pregnant during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. MethodsThe “Three Delay” model theoretical framework was applied to piece together the pregnant women's health-seeking behaviour during the early stages of the pandemic through focus group discussions. The collected qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. ResultsThe delays in deciding to seek care, delays in reaching healthcare facilities and delays in receiving quality healthcare services at the healthcare facility were a result of the fear of contracting the virus. These delays were occasioned by participants’ personal experiences and uncertainties about COVID-19 pandemic, compulsory quarantines, national cessation of movements, compulsory lockdowns, loss of income to many households and the influence of traditional birth attendants (TBAs). ConclusionThe current study found that fear of COVID-19 was a major factor that hindered access to maternal healthcare services. In this regard, there is a need to upscale awareness creation on the significance of seeking maternal health services during the pandemic to reduce the possibility of obliterating the gains made in reducing poor health-seeking behaviours among pregnant women.
Highlights
Prompt access to maternal and child health services has been acknowledged as an essential preventive measure to maternal morbidity and mortality
The first theme was delay related to the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic at an individual and community level, which impacted the pregnant women's decision to go for regular antenatal care visits at the health facilities
The current study aimed at piecing together the health-seeking behaviour of pregnant women during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic through focus group discussions in the framework of the “Three Delay” model namely: the delays in deciding to seek healthcare services; delays in reaching healthcare facilities; and delays in receiving quality healthcare services while at the healthcare facility
Summary
Prompt access to maternal and child health services has been acknowledged as an essential preventive measure to maternal morbidity and mortality. Results: The delays in deciding to seek care, delays in reaching healthcare facilities and delays in receiving quality healthcare services at the healthcare facility were a result of the fear of contracting the virus These delays were occasioned by participants’ personal experiences and uncertainties about COVID-19 pandemic, compulsory quarantines, national cessation of movements, compulsory lockdowns, loss of income to many households and the influence of traditional birth attendants (TBAs). Conclusion: The current study found that fear of COVID-19 was a major factor that hindered access to maternal healthcare services In this regard, there is a need to upscale awareness creation on the significance of seeking maternal health services during the pandemic to reduce the possibility of obliterating the gains made in reducing poor health-seeking behaviours among pregnant women
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