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The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: A scoping review of preparedness, impact and response

Citation

Tessema, GA and Kinfu, Y and Dachew, BA and Tesema, AG and Assefa, Y and Alene, KA and Aregay, AF and Ayalew, MB and Bezabhe, WM and Bali, AG and Dadi, AF and Duko, B and Erku, D and Gebrekidan, K and Gebremariam, KT and Gebremichael, LG and Gebreyohannes, EA and Gelaw, YA and Gesesew, HA and Kibret, GD and Leshargie, CT and Meazew, MW and Mekonnen, A and Mirkuzie, AH and Mohammed, H and Tekle, DY and Tesfay, FH, The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: A scoping review of preparedness, impact and response, BMJ Global Health, 6, (12) Article e007179. ISSN 2059-7908 (2021) [Refereed Article]


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Copyright Statement

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

DOI: doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007179

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in both developed and developing nations alike. Africa has one of the weakest health systems globally, but there is limited evidence on how the region is prepared for, impacted by and responded to the pandemic. Methods We conducted a scoping review of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL to search peer-reviewed articles and Google, Google Scholar and preprint sites for grey literature. The scoping review captured studies on either preparedness or impacts or responses associated with COVID-19 or covering one or more of the three topics and guided by Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework. The extracted information was documented following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension checklist for scoping reviews. Finally, the resulting data were thematically analysed. Results Twenty-two eligible studies, of which 6 reported on health system preparedness, 19 described the impacts of COVID-19 on access to general and essential health services and 7 focused on responses taken by the healthcare systems were included. The main setbacks in health system preparation included lack of available health services needed for the pandemic, inadequate resources and equipment, and limited testing ability and surge capacity for COVID-19. Reduced flow of patients and missing scheduled appointments were among the most common impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health system responses identified in this review included the availability of telephone consultations, re-purposing of available services and establishment of isolation centres, and provisions of COVID-19 guidelines in some settings. Conclusions The health systems in Africa were inadequately prepared for the pandemic, and its impact was substantial. Responses were slow and did not match the magnitude of the problem. Interventions that will improve and strengthen health system resilience and financing through local, national and global engagement should be prioritised.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Keywords:COVID, scoping reviews, Africa
Research Division:Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:Clinical sciences
Research Field:Anaesthesiology
Objective Division:Health
Objective Group:Clinical health
Objective Field:Diagnosis of human diseases and conditions
UTAS Author:Bezabhe, WM (Dr Woldesellassie Bezabhe)
ID Code:149922
Year Published:2021
Web of Science® Times Cited:22
Deposited By:Pharmacy
Deposited On:2022-04-28
Last Modified:2022-08-30
Downloads:3 View Download Statistics

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