The impact of the military conflict in Sudan on maternal health: a mixed qualitative and quantitative study

Ongoing military conflict in Sudan has had significant repercussions on the health and well-being of the population, particularly among women of reproductive age. This study aimed to investigate the impact of conflict on maternal health by employing a mixed qualitative and quantitative research approach.

Through in-depth interviews and survey questionnaires (388 women), this study examined the experiences and challenges faced by pregnant women and new mothers and the availability and accessibility of maternal healthcare services in conflict-affected areas. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 35 women who had recently given birth or were pregnant in regions affected by the Khartoum State-Sudan conflict. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected from the interviews.

Most women did not have access to healthcare services (86.6%), and out of the total sample, 93 (24%) experienced adverse outcomes. The factors associated with adverse effects were parity (OR 1.78, CI [1.15-2.75], p-value 0.010), gestational age (OR 2.10, CI [1.36-3.25], p-value 0.002), access to healthcare (OR 2.35, CI [1.48-3.72], p-value 0.001), and delivery mode (OR 1.68, CI [1.05-2.69], p = 0.030). Factors significantly associated with accessibility to maternal healthcare services included age (OR, 1.28; = 0.042) and higher conflict levels (1.52 times higher odds, p = 0.021). The narratives and experiences shared by women exposed the multifaceted ways in which the conflict-affected maternal health outcomes.

The significance of this study lies in its potential to contribute to the existing literature on maternal health in conflict-affected areas, especially in Sudan, and to help us understand how women can receive maternal health services.