PMA Ethiopia examined the effect of COVID-19 on health facility delivery in six regions in Ethiopia, using longitudinal data. We found that delivery patterns in urban areas changed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was no evidence of large-scale declines in hospital delivery at the national level. Concerns about COVID-19 transmission in health facilities and ensuring lower-level facilities are equipped to address obstetric emergencies are critical to address. COVID-19 will likely slow progress towards increasing rates of institutional delivery in urban areas in Ethiopia.
October 13, 2021