Original Research

Impact of COVID-19 on the antenatal care services utilization in the region of Guelmim Oued Noun, Morocco

Jamal Tikouk, Asmaa Ait Boubkr, Mohammed Alami Chentoufi
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 14, No 4 | a183 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2263 | © 2024 Jamal Tikouk, Asmaa Ait Boubkr, Mohammed Alami Chentoufi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 April 2024 | Published: 30 April 2023

About the author(s)

Jamal Tikouk, Laboratory of Applied Modeling in Economics and Management, University Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco
Asmaa Ait Boubkr, Laboratory of Applied Modeling in Economics and Management, University Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco
Mohammed Alami Chentoufi, Laboratory of Mathematical Modeling and Economic Computation, University Hassan I, Settat, Morocco

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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted access to healthcare facilities across the world, but there is little evidence of how the pandemic influences the use of essential healthcare in the world.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antenatal indicators in the region of Guelmim Oued Noun, Morocco.

Methods: The aggregated data was delivered by regional health authorities covering the period from January 2017 to December 2020. The interrupted time series was mobilized to conduct statistical analysis.

Results: The descriptive results revealed a steady decline after the COVID-19 pandemic in antenatal indicators. The results of the regression model showed a negative impact of the pandemic on the antenatal recruitment rate (β2=-16.14; P<0.01), recruitment rate of women in antenatal visits during the 1st quarter of pregnancy (β2=- 2.09; P<0.01), antenatal visit completion rate (β2=-18.10; P>0.05), and average number of visits/pregnancies (β2=-15.65, P<0,05).

Conclusion: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on antenatal rates was significant for almost all the indicators studied. Future studies should focus on the impact of the pandemic on postnatal and immunization services on a national scale.


Keywords

antenatal; impact; COVID-19; interrupted time series

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Crossref Citations

1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to and delivery of maternal and child healthcare services in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the literature
Alina Kuandyk (Sabitova), Miguel-Angel Ortega, Magashi Joseph Ntegwa, Antonio Sarria-Santamera
Frontiers in Public Health  vol: 12  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1346268