Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the continuity of sexual and reproductive health care in the maternity ward of a health and social promotion centre in Burkina Faso: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the continuity of maternity care in Burkina Faso. This study aimed to compare the volumes of in-person visits and to explore the experiences of healthcare providers and users regarding the continuity of healthcare in the maternity ward of a Health and Social Promotion Center (HSPC) before, during and after the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. MethodsWe conducted a multimethod, cross-sectional exploratory study with a phenomenological approach. Monthly health administrative data regarding family planning visits, antenatal visits, deliveries, and postnatal care before, during, and after COVID-19 were collected and compared. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with family healthcare providers and users and thematically analyzed. ResultsThe study found that the pandemic led to a decline in the demand for healthcare, as people were afraid of contracting COVID-19. This was particularly true for pregnant women who had recently given birth. The study also found that the pandemic disrupted the supply of essential medicines and medical supplies, which made it difficult for healthcare providers to provide quality care. The qualitative analysis allowed us to highlight three themes: the representation of respondents on COVID-19, their perception of the effectiveness of barrier measures and their analysis of the continuity of care in times of COVID-19: the picture of respondents on COVID-19, their perception of the efficacy of barrier measures and their analysis of the continuity of care in times of COVID-19. Despite these challenges, the study found that healthcare providers and users could find ways to maintain continuity of care. ConclusionThe study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the continuity of maternity care in Burkina Faso. However, healthcare providers and users have found ways to maintain continuity of care, and the study provides recommendations for improving continuity of care in the future.