Newborn and Infant Healthcare Service Utilization in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Areas of Jimma Zone: An Exploratory Approach

Abstract

Background: Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world that achieved the United Nations Millennium Development Goal Four of reducing child mortality by two thirds three years ahead of the target year of 2015. Currently, the health system is overwhelmed by the Corona Virus Disease 2019 cases since its declaration as a global pandemic and threatens to reverse the progress of Sustainable Development Goal three including childhood mortality as most countries halted childhood vaccinations and basic health services as a part of COVID-19 public health restrictions. Objective: The current study aimed at exploring the newborn & infant healthcare service utilization in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in rural areas of Jimma Zone. Method: An exploratory qualitative approach was conducted in three districts of Jimma Zone [Dedo, Mana and Shabe Sombo] from June 28-July 28, 2021 G.C. The Study Participants were selected purposively employing maximum variation sampling assumption. Pregnant and lactating Women, Women Development Army leaders, Traditional Birth attendants, Religious leaders, Husbands, HEWs, Health workers were involved in the study. Data were collected through nine-Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and twenty-seven-Key-Informant Interviews (KII). Data was audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and translated to English. The translated transcripts were imported to ATLAS.ti 7.1 for coding and analysis. The findings were presented in themes, subthemes and subcategories supported with quotes derived from the data. Result: The study explored and identified three major themes; Barriers toward the newborn and infant healthcare service utilization, Facilitators of the newborn and infant healthcare service utilization and Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the newborn infant healthcare service utilization. Barriers related to the COVID-19, Community-level barriers, and Health facility-related barriers. Moreover, Involvement of significant others, presence of committed health workers, access to media (radio) were explored as facilitators toward the newborn and infant healthcare service utilization Conclusion: A wide range of barriers and facilitators toward the newborn and infant healthcare was explored with the pandemic impacts on infants, which calls a need to develop effective strategies and interventions that fit the context of local setting, to address the explored barriers and reduce the impacts of the pandemic.