Pregnant women in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are avoiding healthcare facilities due to fears of contracting Ebola [1].
This avoidance increases the risk of maternal deaths, premature births, and stillbirths in a region already struggling with a severe health crisis. The reluctance to seek medical care creates a secondary health emergency where preventable pregnancy complications become fatal.
The current crisis is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo [3]. It was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 15, 2026 [3]. Local reports indicate this is the deadliest outbreak the country has faced [1].
Women are opting to stay home rather than risk exposure at medical centers. "I am scared of catching Ebola at the clinic," said Esther Lutula, a 26-year-old pregnant woman [2].
Health workers on the ground report that this fear is systemic across the eastern region. "Fear is keeping pregnant women away from hospitals," said a health worker in eastern DRC [1].
The disruption extends beyond prenatal care to general pediatric and maternal services. A UNICEF spokesperson said the outbreak is severely disrupting essential healthcare services for women and children [3].
Efforts to restore trust in the medical system are ongoing, as the lack of professional care during childbirth leads to a spike in avoidable deaths. The combination of a deadly virus and the fear of the cure has left thousands of vulnerable women without a safe place to give birth.
“"I am scared of catching Ebola at the clinic."”
The situation in eastern DRC illustrates a common phenomenon in epidemic management where the 'fear of the facility' becomes as dangerous as the pathogen itself. When populations perceive hospitals as vectors of infection rather than sites of healing, the collapse of routine maternal care can lead to a mortality rate that exceeds the direct death toll of the virus.
