This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, expectant mothers in Kisumu are increasingly opting for home births, citing fear of exposure to the virus in hospitals.
For 27-year-old Dorothy Akoth, the thought of giving birth in a hospital was daunting. "It was at night and my husband was willing to take me to hospital but I would hear none of it since I was afraid of contracting the virus," she said.
Similar concerns have led other mothers to seek the services of traditional birth attendants like Agnes Muhonja, 68, who has seen a rise in clients since the pandemic began. "Last night, I helped three mothers give birth," she said, showing details of the babies recorded in a worn-out notebook.
According to reports from the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, the facility has recorded a 60 per cent drop in births since the pandemic started. In April last year, the facility had a total of 1,000 births compared to 400 recorded in April this year.
Medics at the facility said the number of deliveries has decreased significantly, from an average of 35-40 per day to 18-25 per day. Reports from Kisumu County Hospital also indicate a decline in deliveries, from 11 per night to four.
The situation has been exacerbated by the curfew, which makes it difficult for expectant women to seek help in hospitals as they fear being arrested.
