Ebola

Midwives play a vital role in safeguarding the sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health (SRMNAH) needs of women and families during Ebola outbreaks. In settings where fear, stigma, and overwhelmed health systems disrupt essential SRMNAH services, midwives are often among the few trusted providers able to deliver respectful, life-saving care and engage with communities to prevent fear or lack of access to health services contributing to worsening outcomes.

Ebola poses serious risks for pregnant and breastfeeding women, including miscarriage, preterm labour, maternal complications, and poor newborn outcomes, while also increasing infection risks for frontline health workers providing care.

Pandemic Preparedness
Key Risks and Challenges:
  • Ebola infection during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm labour, and severe maternal and newborn complications.
  • Ebola symptoms can overlap with pregnancy-related conditions, making timely diagnosis and referral more difficult.
  • Midwives and frontline health workers face a heightened risk of infection during labour, childbirth, and emergency obstetric procedures.
  • Ebola outbreaks often disrupt essential SRMNAH services, including antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, postnatal care, breastfeeding support, and family planning services.
  • Fear, stigma, and mistrust of health facilities can prevent women and adolescent girls from seeking timely care.
  • Breastfeeding may need to be interrupted to prevent Ebola transmission, creating additional risks for infant nutrition and care.
  • Shortages of PPE, trained healthcare workers, medicines, and functioning health facilities can limit safe and effective care.
  • Women, adolescents, and gender-diverse individuals may face increased vulnerability to violence, neglect, and barriers to accessing healthcare during Ebola outbreaks.

Expert Resources

Guidelines for the management of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the context of Ebola virus disease – by World Health Organization

WHO guidance on caring for pregnant and breastfeeding women with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease, including clinical management, infection prevention and control, breastfeeding considerations, and respectful care during outbreaks.

Ebola Virus Disease and Sexual and Reproductive Health: Operational Guidance – by Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises

Operational guidance to help humanitarian and health actors maintain essential sexual and reproductive health services during Ebola outbreaks, including maternal and newborn care, contraception, safe abortion care where legal, and survivor-centered support.

Infant Feeding in the Context of Ebola – by Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group

Guidance on protecting infant and young child feeding during Ebola outbreaks, with practical considerations for breastfeeding, safe replacement feeding when needed, caregiver support, and infection prevention.

Not All That Bleeds Is Ebola – by International Rescue Committee

A resource highlighting the need to protect access to essential reproductive, maternal, and menstrual health services during Ebola outbreaks, and to avoid misclassifying all bleeding-related health needs as Ebola.

Ebola outbreak statement – by World Health Organization

A current WHO statement on the Ebola outbreak and public health emergency declaration. Because outbreak information can change quickly, this resource should be reviewed regularly to ensure the latest guidance and situation updates are reflected.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Checklist – by Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises (IAWG)

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Checklist – by Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises (IAWG)

Free Guide to Working in an Ebola Treatment Unit – by DisasterReady and Humanitarian U

Learn how to take safe, appropriate actions for infection prevention and control of the Ebola virus disease while preparing and/or working in an Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU).

Contextual Note on the Ebola Bundibugyo Outbreak in Ituri (2026) – by Collective for Ituri

A contextual briefing on the social, cultural, political, and health-system factors shaping the Ebola response in Ituri Province, DRC. It highlights the importance of community trust, locally informed communication, conflict-sensitive approaches, safe and dignified burials, protection of vulnerable populations, and strengthening existing health systems.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak – by Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises (IAWG)

An outbreak overview highlighting the impact of Bundibugyo Ebola on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Central Africa. It summarizes the regional spread, severity, and lack of approved vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo virus, with particular attention to implications for SRHR in affected communities.

Ebola, Pregnancy and Postpartum Haemorrhage, The Double Emergency Facing Mothers – by End PopstPartum Hemorrhage

Pregnant women face heightened risks during Ebola outbreaks, including severe bleeding, pregnancy loss, and maternal complications, while health systems must manage obstetric emergencies alongside infection-control risks. The article emphasizes maintaining safe maternity services through strong referral systems, protective equipment, emergency obstetric care, blood availability, and continued health worker training.

A call to safeguard sexual and reproductive health information and services during Ebola outbreaks – NIH

This commentary highlights how Ebola outbreaks can disrupt access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, with symptoms such as bleeding sometimes misinterpreted as Ebola and contributing to stigma and delays in care. It calls for the Minimum Initial Services Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations to be integrated into Ebola preparedness and response efforts.