Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40361021›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare programs in Zimbabwe: a mixed methods study.

Nicholas Midzi, C Haruzivishe, E Gonese, S Sembuche, M J Mutsaka-Makuvaza, R Ayebare, T Muwonge, S Nakasendwa, C Mateta, T Madanhire and 10 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Lived experiences of tuberculosis patients accessing treatment during COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Nicholas MidziNational Institute of Health Research (Ministry of Health and Childcare), Harare, Zimbabwe. nmidzi@mohcc.org.zw.
C HaruzivisheUniversity of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
E GoneseAfrica Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
S SembucheAfrica Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
M J Mutsaka-MakuvazaNational Institute of Health Research (Ministry of Health and Childcare), Harare, Zimbabwe.
R AyebareInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
T MuwongeInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
S NakasendwaInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
C MatetaNational Institute of Health Research (Ministry of Health and Childcare), Harare, Zimbabwe.
T MadanhireUniversity of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. tafmadanhire@gmail.com.
C N ChaibvaNational University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
C GwatiringaEpidemiology and Disease Control (Ministry of Health and Child Care), Harare, Zimbabwe.
K MutsakaNational Institute of Health Research (Ministry of Health and Childcare), Harare, Zimbabwe.
I PhiriEpidemiology and Disease Control (Ministry of Health and Child Care), Harare, Zimbabwe.
M AbdulazizAfrica Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
P C KabweAfrica Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
V Dube-MawerewereUniversity of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
R TajudeenAfrica Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
M P FallahAfrica Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
M DobbiePublic Health Division (Ministry of Health and Child Care), Harare, Zimbabwe.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare services. Understanding similar epidemic-related disruptions on a broader scope in our local setting is critical for the effective planning of essential services. The study determined the impact of Coronavirus disease(COVID-19) on healthcare programs in Zimbabwe.

methodsA mixed-methods study compared healthcare service delivery trends from the Ministry of Health and Child Care before, during and post the pandemic. It employed two methods of data collection: Key informant interviews (KII) and secondary data analysis from the Zimbabwe District Health Information Systems 2 (DHIS2). Purposive sampling obtained key informants for interviews whilst 18 healthcare service indicators were identified from the national database. Statistical analysis consisted of an interrupted time series analysis of those indicators preceded by visualization to appreciate trend change. An inductive approach was used to code and identify basic themes which were then triangulated against DHIS2 findings.

resultsThe study revealed that COVID-19 had a negative impact on health service delivery; increasing disruptions of critical healthcare services, maternal and child health, reproductive health issues, and other specialist services were prominent. The rise in maternal and child mortality cases and caesarean sections could be directly linked to the decline in service delivery during the pandemic. Mitigation strategies that were introduced during the pandemic included the use of community-based services, outreach services, capacity building, and de-congestion of public services.

conclusionsThe pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery, causing service usage to decline due to lockdowns. Response strategies included community services, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. Future readiness requires epidemic plans, enhanced resources, a multisectoral approach, workforce training, and public education.

Indexed as

Community Health ServicesCOVID-19Delivery of Health CareHealth Status IndicatorsPandemicsCapacity BuildingCommunity Health PlanningDatabases, FactualHumansInterviews as TopicMaternal-Child Health ServicesQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2Secondary Data AnalysisStakeholder ParticipationZimbabweCOVID-19DHIS2Healthcare service indicatorsHealthcare workersHealth systems impactPublic healthZimbabwe

Identifiers

PMID40361021
PMCPMC12070714

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.