Ebola Fears Drive Pregnant Women Away From Clinics in DRC
In DRC's Ituri Province, fear of Ebola is keeping pregnant women from clinics, leading to more stillbirths and a rise in maternal deaths.
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri Province is having a severe knock-on effect on maternal health, with medical workers reporting that fear of the virus is driving expectant mothers away from clinics.
At Elikya Hospital in Bunia, the provincial capital, staff say prenatal attendance has dropped despite efforts to reassure women that facilities are safe. Midwife Leonie Banana warned that missed appointments prevent early detection of fetal problems, leading to more complications.
"When women miss appointments, it becomes difficult to know in time if the fetus has a problem," Banana said. "But when women stay home for fear of infection, we see more complications, including stillbirths and premature births."
The anxiety is acute even for those who do seek care. Janviette Ishara, a new mother who delivered during the outbreak, described the stress of being treated near an Ebola treatment center.
"It was really stressful because I was in a clinic near the Ebola treatment center," Ishara said. "We had also witnessed many Ebola-related deaths. I thought to myself, 'Lord, I don't want to risk catching this disease.'"
The indirect impact is visible in mortality data. The UN Population Fund reports that maternal deaths in the region rose from 3.1 to 5.8 per week between May 25 and July 19. National data also shows that deaths outside healthcare facilities nearly doubled, a trend experts link to delayed care.
Health facilities have been forced to take extreme precautions. Yazid Yacim, medical director of Elikya Hospital, said his facility was closed for 21 days while staff were quarantined and the premises disinfected.
"I would like to reassure women that the hospital is now safe," Yacim said. "It is better to come here for treatment than to manage complications at home."
Despite these reassurances, a sense of fear persists, complicating care for pregnant women and other patients. Health workers hope that continued safety measures will help restore trust so that patients can access essential care without the added fear of contracting Ebola.