Covid-19 and lockdown have put a strain on all aspects of life, including the economic and social climate and challenges of accessing essential services. Many non-essential health services had to be limited. In some instances, the fear of contracting the disease at the facility level results in many patients being denied or having delayed access to primary health services. COVID-19 was prioritized over other conditions, and all these factors saw a decline in patients’ health-seeking behavior for essential and primary healthcare. A reduction of movement was required, which led to reductions in the acquiring of antenatal or postnatal care. Reduced access to maternal healthcare was observed during lockdowns, including limited access to antenatal care resources, limited social support and other uncertainties. The ongoing lockdowns left many women without access to time-sensitive maternal and reproductive health care, from routine gynaecological check-ups to prenatal care to abortion.
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A 2021 study studied this question.