Fear of Ebola is keeping some pregnant women in eastern Congo away from hospitals, and health concerns are growing as more mothers die around childbirth. The report says the outbreak is discouraging women from seeking routine prenatal care and hospital-based delivery services at a time when medical support can be critical.
In Bunia, one expectant mother, Esther Lutula, said she stopped attending prenatal checkups after the current Ebola outbreak was declared in the region. Her case reflects a wider pattern described in the report, with some women choosing to stay away from health facilities because they are afraid of what could happen there during the outbreak.
That trend is especially serious in Congo, where maternal mortality was already high before the latest Ebola emergency. When women skip prenatal visits or avoid hospitals during labor, complications may go untreated, increasing the risk for both mothers and babies.
The situation highlights how an infectious disease outbreak can disrupt far more than direct Ebola care. In eastern Congo, the spread of fear around hospitals is also affecting maternity services, adding another layer to an already severe public health crisis.
