More pregnant women are dying in Congo as they avoid hospitals over Ebola

In northeastern Congo, the ongoing Ebola outbreak has led to a surge in maternal deaths as women increasingly shun hospitals due to fear and misinformation. Esther Lutula, a 26-year-old mother of four, stopped attending prenatal checkups after the outbreak declaration, fearing isolation for a fever, a widespread misconception. As the infection spreads, the consequences have been dire, with maternal mortality rates doubling in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter.

Before the outbreak, there were approximately 3.1 maternal deaths per week, but this rose to 5.8 deaths from May 25 to July 19. Furthermore, the proportion of deaths outside health centers has surged from 9.1% to 17.4% during the same period, according to UNFPA data.

The crisis is exacerbated by the fact that Congo is currently experiencing its fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, with over 1,600 confirmed deaths. Health and aid workers warn of a hidden crisis as pregnant women avoid medical facilities, contributing to the already high maternal mortality rate in the country. The combination of Ebola-related rumors and the challenges faced by health workers in one of Congo's most remote and volatile regions has left pregnant women with limited access to care.