Home / Health / Ebola Fear Doubles Maternal Deaths in Eastern Congo
Ebola Fear Doubles Maternal Deaths in Eastern Congo
3 Aug
Summary
- Maternal mortality in Ituri province has doubled due to Ebola outbreak fears.
- Pregnant women avoid clinics fearing isolation and misinformation about Ebola.
- Healthcare facilities are strained, redirecting resources to Ebola response.
An escalating Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is creating a secondary crisis, dramatically increasing maternal mortality rates. In Ituri province, the number of women dying from childbirth complications has nearly doubled since the outbreak was declared on May 15th. This surge is attributed to pregnant women, like 26-year-old Esther Lutula, actively avoiding prenatal checkups and clinics.
Fear of isolation due to common symptoms such as fever, coupled with widespread misinformation about Ebola, is driving pregnant women away from healthcare facilities. This avoidance is proving deadly, as maternal deaths weekly in Ituri jumped from an average of 3.1 before the outbreak to 5.8 between May 25 and July 19. Deaths occurring outside of health centers also significantly increased.
The already fragile healthcare system in Congo, one of the world's most dangerous places to give birth, is further strained by the outbreak. Health facilities are diverting staff and supplies to combat Ebola, reducing access to essential maternal care. Attacks on health facilities and misinformation campaigns exacerbate the problem, leaving pregnant women with fewer trusted and safe options for care.
