Economic Implication of Covid-19 on Antenatal Care in Niger State: A Regression Approach

Abstract

Antenatal care (ANC) service has been one of the major mechanisms to curbing maternal mortality in the world. This study analyzed the economic impact of COVID-19 on ANC in Niger State, Nigeria from March – July 2020. The study objective was to evaluate the economic impact of COVID-19 on ANC. The study used secondary data from National District Health Information System (DHIS); and adopted the values from ANOVA and regression statistical estimations statistical Excel packages for analysis. The data was randomly selected from 10 local government areas (LGAs) out of 25 LGAs of the State. These LGAs recorded confirmed cases of COVID 19. The data elements (variables) were total ANC attendance and number of Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP or IPTp) taken by pregnant women in the health facility and confirmed malaria cases for pregnant women from March to July 2020. Study result indicated significant impact of COVID-19 on ANC with Pval of 0.00025. Positive and significant effect of ANC on IPTp uptake with the coefficient of 0.565912 and Pval of 0.008793, meaning that 1% increase in ANC could ead to 56.5% increase in IPTp uptake. There was no significant increase in confirmed malaria in Niger State within the period of study with Pvalue of 0.418786. The implications of the results were, it reduced the revenue being generated for the services of the health facility, exposing pregnant women and her fetus to dangers of malaria during pregnancy while stretching the fragile primary health care system; and give chance to unhealthy pregnant women and child. It could increase malaria in pregnancy which in turn reduce the efficiency of those women in economic activities, mostly, farming, buying & selling, predominant in the region. Thereby, reduced productivity and increasing poverty in that region. More so, it can lead to increase in maternal – child mortality in the State which has been a burden to the country, hence, reduction in working population that could have stimulated productivity and increase standard of living. In conclusion, the study highlights the impact of COVID-19 and potential factors for closer investigation to reduce its effects.