Impact of Ebola outbreak on reproductive health services in a rural district of Sierra Leone: a prospective observational study

ObjectivesTo assess the trends concerning utilisation of maternal and child health (MCH) services before, during and after the Ebola outbreak, quantifying the contribution of a reorganised referral system (RS).DesignA prospective observational study of MCH services.SettingPujehun district in Sierra Leone, 77 community health facilities and 1 hospital from 2012 to 2017.Main outcome measuresMCH utililization was evaluated by assessing: (1) institutional deliveries, Cesarean-sections, paediatric and maternity admissions and deaths, and major direct obstetric complications (MDOCs), at hospital level; (2) antenatal care (ANC) 1 and 4, institutional delivery and family planning, at community level. Contribution of a strengthened RS was also measured.ResultsAt hospital level, there is a significant difference between trends Ebola versus pre-Ebola for maternal admissions (7, 95% CI 4 to 11, pConclusionsA stronger health system compared with other districts in Sierra Leone and a strengthened RS enabled health facilities in Pujehun to maintain service provision and uptake during and after the Ebola epidemic.