The Impact of Conflict on Maternal and Child Health Services: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Conflicts are unavoidable aspect of human existence, causing disruptions in livelihoods, infrastructure, socioeconomic systems and healthcare access. Among the most severe effects of conflict are those on maternal and child health (MCH) services, on which there is a notable scarcity of research. Consequently, this scoping review examines the impact of conflict on the accessibility of MCH services and their associated treatment outcomes and identifies limitations. A review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews and the Joanna Briggs Institute Methods Manual for scoping review to map works of literature regarding the effects of conflict on MCH across nine databases (PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Google Scholar) published in English between January 2000 and May 2024. The quality of the studies was evaluated using NIH tools, resulting in 17 classified as good, 5 as fair and 1 as poor, which was subsequently excluded. A narrative synthesis was employed to categorise the findings based on predisposing, enabling and need factors. Out of 612 records, 23 studies (from 15 countries, predominantly qualitative) confirmed that conflict limits access due to insecurity and displacement (enabling factors, n = 18 studies), modifies health-seeking behaviours (predisposing, n = 12) and increases mortality and malnutrition rates (need, n = 15). (NGO) Non-Governmental Organisation and community outreach efforts were found to alleviate some of these effects (notably in Pakistan and Afghanistan). In addition, three studies examined the intersections of pandemic and conflict, highlighting compounded disruptions. Given the prevalence of ongoing conflicts, it is crucial to comprehend their effects and mitigate the health repercussions for women and children, a topic that warrants significant academic inquiry.