Table 2  Recommendations for action

1. Work environment: Primarily, the results suggest that action should be taken by key stakeholders to create a supportive work environment with sufficient supply of PPEs and appropriate infrastructural setting for health hygiene and hand washing practice to prevent infection of COVID-19.

2. Gender appropriate PPEs: Gender appropriate PPEs should be developed for the community health workers so that they can continue their work at the community level with appropriate personal protective equipment.

3. Social phenomena: A strong community based awareness-raising intervention targeting all community members is essential to enable pregnant women to continue to access the essential existing maternal and neonatal care health services while following proper COVID-19 preventive measures.