MamaYe is extremely concerned by the 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. The impact of the virus not only constitutes a health emergency in itself, but places great strain on the health systems of those countries affected. There is little evidence available on the precise impact of the virus, but outcomes from two different studies seem to suggest that women and newborns are more at risk.
MamaYe is extremely concerned by the 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. The impact of the virus not only constitutes a health emergency in itself, but places great strain on the health systems of those countries affected.There is little evidence available on the precise impact of the virus, but outcomes from two different studies seem to suggest that women and newborns are more at risk.Indeed, a study on Ebola and pregnancy in Democratic Republic of the Congo, based on a small sample of pregnant women, suggests that pregnant women may have a higher risk of mortality than non-pregnant women. The results showed pregnant women to have a slightly higher death rate than other infected persons.The study also suggests that ebola may affect the ouctome of the pregnancy. Newborn babies, or babies to be born and whose mother has been infected by Ebola, had very low chances of survival. However, more research needs to be done on this topic to better understand the patterns and consequences of the disease.Another study of Ebola by two anthropologists, Barry and Bonnie Hewlitt, suggests that women tend to be more infected by the virus.The Hewlitts describe how, during two outbreaks in Congo and in Uganda, women were more likely to be the primary care givers for sick family members and to wash and prepare the deceased for burial, and are therefore at increased risk of being infected by the virus. If sick, they were less likely to seek treatment.They were not targeted by neighboorhood meetings or health messaging on ebola. As a consequence, they experienced substantially higher mortality than men. Women who survived Ebola suffered higher stigmatisation than men. You can read a bit more about the practical implications of this book by clicking the link here.What is needed right now is to make health a priority in Sierra Leone by investing more in health systems, ensuring that clinics are safe to be able to control this epidemic and prevent the next one. The Government of Sierra Leone had pledged to allocate 15% of its budget to health by 2015, yet in January 2014, only 12.4% were allocated. More efforts are needed to make sure that every Sierra Leonean baby survives and thrives, and to make Ebola history.For an overview of the Ebola-related evidence available on the MamaYe website :
- An anthropological perspective of the disease, with essantial recommendations for health decsion-makers on how to control the epidemic : Ebola, Culture, and Politics: The Anthropology of an Emerging Disease
- To find out more on links between ebola and pregnancy : Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever and Pregnancy
- The WHO factsheet on Ebola : Ebola Virus Disease
- The article by Dr Peter Piot, who co-discovered Ebola, and Dr Mohamed Yilla, Country Director for Mamaye Sierra Leone in the Financial Times. They emphasise the need to strengthen health systems to tackle Ebola and other « silent epidemics » such as maternal mortality. A Silent Epidemic in Ebola's Heartland
- A blog by MamaYe Sierra Leone’s programme manager Hanna, calling for increased funding for the health system to address Ebola and other outbreaks. Ebola, maternal deaths and gaps in health systems