The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response
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 sc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1195716 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94247 |
| _version_ | 1848765852428533760 |
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| author | Tessema, Gizachew Kinfu, Yohannes Dachew, Berihun Tesema, Azeb Assefa, Yibeltal Alene, Kefyalew Aregay, A. Ayalew, M. Bezabhe, W. Bali, A. Dadi, A. Duko, Bereket Erku, D. Gebrekidan, K. Gebremariam, K. Gebremichael, L. Gebreyohannes, E. Gelaw, Y. Gesesew, H. Kibret, G. Leshargie, C. Meazew, M. Mekonnen, A. Mirkuzie, A. Mohammed, H. Tekle, D. Tesfay, F. |
| author_facet | Tessema, Gizachew Kinfu, Yohannes Dachew, Berihun Tesema, Azeb Assefa, Yibeltal Alene, Kefyalew Aregay, A. Ayalew, M. Bezabhe, W. Bali, A. Dadi, A. Duko, Bereket Erku, D. Gebrekidan, K. Gebremariam, K. Gebremichael, L. Gebreyohannes, E. Gelaw, Y. Gesesew, H. Kibret, G. Leshargie, C. Meazew, M. Mekonnen, A. Mirkuzie, A. Mohammed, H. Tekle, D. Tesfay, F. |
| author_sort | Tessema, Gizachew |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:41:50Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-94247 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:41:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-942472024-02-06T05:53:23Z The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response Tessema, Gizachew Kinfu, Yohannes Dachew, Berihun Tesema, Azeb Assefa, Yibeltal Alene, Kefyalew Aregay, A. Ayalew, M. Bezabhe, W. Bali, A. Dadi, A. Duko, Bereket Erku, D. Gebrekidan, K. Gebremariam, K. Gebremichael, L. Gebreyohannes, E. Gelaw, Y. Gesesew, H. Kibret, G. Leshargie, C. Meazew, M. Mekonnen, A. Mirkuzie, A. Mohammed, H. Tekle, D. Tesfay, F. Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health COVID-19 health systems health services research health policy PREVENTION SERVICES HIV OUTBREAK COVID-19 health policy health services research health systems Africa COVID-19 Health Services Accessibility Humans Pandemics SARS-CoV-2 Humans Health Services Accessibility Africa Pandemics COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 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. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94247 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007179 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1195716 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ BMJ Publishing Group fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health COVID-19 health systems health services research health policy PREVENTION SERVICES HIV OUTBREAK COVID-19 health policy health services research health systems Africa COVID-19 Health Services Accessibility Humans Pandemics SARS-CoV-2 Humans Health Services Accessibility Africa Pandemics COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Tessema, Gizachew Kinfu, Yohannes Dachew, Berihun Tesema, Azeb Assefa, Yibeltal Alene, Kefyalew Aregay, A. Ayalew, M. Bezabhe, W. Bali, A. Dadi, A. Duko, Bereket Erku, D. Gebrekidan, K. Gebremariam, K. Gebremichael, L. Gebreyohannes, E. Gelaw, Y. Gesesew, H. Kibret, G. Leshargie, C. Meazew, M. Mekonnen, A. Mirkuzie, A. Mohammed, H. Tekle, D. Tesfay, F. The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response |
| title | The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response |
| title_full | The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response |
| title_fullStr | The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response |
| title_full_unstemmed | The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response |
| title_short | The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response |
| title_sort | covid-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health COVID-19 health systems health services research health policy PREVENTION SERVICES HIV OUTBREAK COVID-19 health policy health services research health systems Africa COVID-19 Health Services Accessibility Humans Pandemics SARS-CoV-2 Humans Health Services Accessibility Africa Pandemics COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1195716 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94247 |