Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal and Child Health Services in Peru
Author Information
Author(s): Huicho Luis, Huayanay-Espinoza Carlos A, Valladares Rodrigo, Oviedo-Rios Alvaro G, Ruiz-Lopez Soleda S, Akseer Nadia, Maïga Abdoulaye, Matijasevich Alicia, Amouzou Agbessi
Primary Institution: Centro de Investigación en Salud Materna e Infantil, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
Hypothesis
The COVID-19 pandemic had an indirect, immediate and temporary negative effect on the level and slope of utilisation of essential maternal and child health services in Peru.
Conclusion
The pandemic decreased the utilisation of essential maternal and child health services in Peru, highlighting the need to preserve the resilience of the health system.
Supporting Evidence
- The utilisation of most maternal and child health services dropped dramatically in 2020 after the outbreak.
- In 2021, service utilisation was fairly similar or higher compared to the pre-pandemic period.
- The decrease was higher in the utilisation of antenatal care visits in 2020.
- The Rainforest region was the most affected by the decrease in service utilisation.
Takeaway
COVID-19 made it harder for mothers and children in Peru to get health services, but things got better in 2021.
Methodology
An interrupted time series analysis was used to assess trends in maternal and child health services utilisation from 2018 to 2021 using routine health facility data.
Potential Biases
Underreporting or overreporting of health service data may have occurred.
Limitations
Potential issues with data completeness and quality due to the availability of qualified health officers and limited interviews capturing diverse perspectives.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on maternal and child health services across various regions in Peru, including urban and rural areas.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.74–0.83
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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