Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Aug 2022)
Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
Abstract
Samira Awel, Ismael Ahmed, Desalew Tilahun, Kenenisa Tegenu School of Nursing, College of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Samira Awel, School of Nursing, College of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia, Tel +251 921918489, Email [email protected]: COVID-19 is a global pandemic with unprecedented medical, economic and social consequences affecting nations across the world. This epidemic arises while chronic diseases are continued to be a public health concern. Though evidence is generated on its impact on the health care system, little is known about the Impact of COVID − 19 on the care-seeking behavior of chronic patients.Objective: To assess the Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare-seeking behavior of patients with chronic diseases attending follow-up at public hospitals in Jimma zone, South West Ethiopia.Methods: Facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The sample was calculated using the single population proportion formula. Hospitals were selected by using simple random sampling. Then, the final calculated sample size for the study was proportionally allocated to each selected hospital. Data were collected from 400 participants through face-to-face interviews and card reviews. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses with 95% CI for odds ratio (OR) were used to identify significant factors.Results: Of the total respondents 156 (39.0%) of them had poor health-seeking behavior. Contact history with COVID − 19 patient (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.1– 7.0), perceived moderate depression (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2– 4.2), perceived extreme depression (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI = 1.8– 10.5), shortage of medication (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.0– 6.2) increases the odds of poor health-seeking behavior. In addition, the odds of poor health-seeking in patients with no formal education were higher compared to patients with higher educational status (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.0– 9.0).Conclusion: COVID − 19 outbreaks affected the health-seeking behavior of patients with chronic diseases. The impact was found to be more significant among patients who had a contact history with COVID − 19 patients. Moreover, perceived depression, shortage of medication, and low educational status were significant predictors of poor health-seeking behavior. Therefore, working on the barriers to the health-seeking behavior of chronic patients may reduce the effect of COVID-19.Keywords: COVID-19, health-seeking behavior, chronic disease, Ethiopia
