ArticleBMJ open2022
Preparedness for and impact of COVID-19 on primary health care delivery in urban and rural Malawi: a mixed methods study.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed.
- Service continuity of community-based health and social care organisations in times of disaster and health emergencies: a mapping review.BMC health services research · 2026Article
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- Perinatal clients' experiences of care during COVID-19 in the North West District, South Africa.Health SA = SA Gesondheid · 2025Article
- Understanding the acceptability of COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests: A multi-country qualitative study.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Social media influence on COVID-19 vaccine perceptions among University students: a Malawi case study.BMC public health · 2024Article
- The environmental awareness of nurses as environmentally sustainable health care leaders: a mixed method analysis.BMC nursing · 2024Article
- Educational actions conducted during the pandemic with primary health care professionals: a scoping review.Revista brasileira de enfermagem · 2024Article
- Mixed influence of COVID-19 on primary maternal and child health services in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Article
- Preparedness, impacts, and responses of public health emergencies towards health security: qualitative synthesis of evidence.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2023Article
- Stress and coping in the face of COVID-19: a qualitative inquiry into early pandemic experiences and psychological well-being of health workers in Burkina Faso, Senegal and The Gambia.Health policy and planning · 2023Article
- How does the work-life balance impact stress on primary healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic?BMC health services research · 2023Article
- COVID-19 impacts on healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa: an overview.The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases · 2023Article
- Learning from pandemic responses: Informing a resilient and equitable health system recovery in Thailand.Frontiers in public health · 2023Review
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveAcross Africa, the impact of COVID-19 continues to be acutely felt. This includes Malawi, where a key component of health service delivery to mitigate against COVID-19 are the primary healthcare facilities, strategically placed throughout districts to offer primary and maternal healthcare. These facilities have limited infrastructure and capacity but are the most accessible and play a crucial role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed health facility preparedness for COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on health service delivery and frontline workers.
settingPrimary and maternal healthcare in Blantyre District, Malawi.
participantsWe conducted regular visits to 31 healthcare facilities and a series of telephone-based qualitative interviews with frontline workers (n=81 with 38 participants) between August 2020 and May 2021.
resultsDespite significant financial and infrastructural constraints, health centres continued to remain open. The majority of frontline health workers received training and access to preventative COVID-19 materials. Nevertheless, we found disruptions to key services and a reduction in clients attending facilities. Key barriers to implementing COVID-19 prevention measures included periodic shortages of resources (soap, hand sanitiser, water, masks and staff). Frontline workers reported challenges in managing physical distancing and in handling suspected COVID-19 cases. We found discrepancies between reported behaviour and practice, particularly with consistent use of masks, despite being provided. Frontline workers felt COVID-19 had negatively impacted their lives. They experienced fatigue and stress due to heavy workloads, stigma in the community and worries about becoming infected with and transmitting COVID-19.
conclusionResource (human and material) inadequacy shaped the health facility capacity for support and response to COVID-19, and frontline workers may require psychosocial support to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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