Ebola Fear Drives Pregnant Women Away From Hospitals, Deaths Rise In Congo Pregnant women in Congo are increasingly avoiding hospitals due to fears of Ebola infection, leading to a surge in maternal deaths. The outbreak, declared in eastern Congo on May 15, has created a crisis as expectant mothers delay or skip prenatal care, exacerbating an already dire situation. Esther Lutula, a 26-year-old woman in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, stopped attending prenatal checkups after the outbreak began, fearing isolation if she showed symptoms like a fever. Her decision reflects a broader trend as maternal mortality in Ituri province has doubled since the outbreak, with an average of six women dying weekly from childbirth complications, according to Noemi Dalmonte, deputy country representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Congo. Before the outbreak, maternal deaths in Ituri averaged 3.1 per week, but this figure jumped to 5.8 between May 25 and July 19. The proportion of deaths occurring outside health centers also rose from 9.1% to 17.4% during the same period, highlighting the growing risk for women who avoid medical facilities. This crisis is part of a larger pattern in sub-Saharan Africa, where 180,000 pregnancy-related deaths are recorded annually. Congo, which already has the world’s highest childbirth mortality rate, faces 19,000 maternal deaths annually, tied with India and second only to Nigeria globally. The Ebola outbreak, now the fastest-growing on record with over 1,600 confirmed deaths, has further strained Congo’s healthcare system. Health workers warn that the crisis is worsening as pregnant women, who often avoid hospitals during public health emergencies, are now more reluctant than ever.#ebola_outbreak #congo #unfpa #ituri_province #bunia
