The use of telemedicine in mitigating the effects of reduced antenatal care visits during the COVID-19 infection lockdown in Nigeria

Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu; Samson Dayo Ejikunle; Chioma Ngozichukwu Pauline Mbachu; Jude Ehiabhi Okohue; Osita Samuel Umeononihu; Chukwuemeka Ojiyi; Hilary Obiagwu; Marcel Chukwuemeka Ukah; Ihechinyerem Kelechi Osuagwu

doi:10.4103/njgp.njgp_13_21

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Year : 2021 | Volume : 19 | Issue : 2 | Page : 50-53

The use of telemedicine in mitigating the effects of reduced antenatal care visits during the COVID-19 infection lockdown in Nigeria

Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu¹, Samson Dayo Ejikunle², Chioma Ngozichukwu Pauline Mbachu³, Jude Ehiabhi Okohue⁴, Osita Samuel Umeononihu¹, Chukwuemeka Ojiyi⁵, Hilary Obiagwu⁶, Marcel Chukwuemeka Ukah⁷, Ihechinyerem Kelechi Osuagwu⁸
¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imo State University, Orlu Campus, Nigeria
³ Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, Nigeria
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University, Awka Campus, Nigeria
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reddington Multispecialty Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
⁸ Medical Centre, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State
Nigeria

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.4103/njgp.njgp_13_21

Aims and Objectives: The study evaluated the use of telemedicine in the management of pregnant women during the COVID-19 in Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical practitioners that care for pregnant women and a self-administered online questionnaire (google form) was used to obtain relevant information from the respondents. Data were analyzed using Stata software version 16. Results: A total of 138 medical practitioners participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 41.30± 7.5 years. Seventy (51.47%) work in national public tertiary health institutions while 27(19.85%) work in-state public tertiary and 19(13.97%) in private specialist hospitals. There was a significant reduction in the number of patients seen during the period when compared to the number before the pandemic(p=0.013). Fifty-one (36.96%) of the medical practitioners said they practiced telemedicine, with the majority 41(80.39%) using audio calls. Conclusion: The use of telemedicine was poor among the medical practitioners despite the drop in antenatal attendance.

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