Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities

ABSTRACTTo respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries introduced public health and social measures that had indirect societal, economic consequences. Concerns during epidemics include continuity of routine health services. We investigate how healthcare utilisation and healthcare seeking behaviour c...

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Main Authors: Chiara Altare, Natalya Kostandova, Md Abul Hasan, Jogie Abucejo Agbogan, Md Lalan Miah, Hannah Crockett, Madison Bates, Sharon Leslie, Brigitte Tonon, Caroline Antoine, Paul Spiegel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Global Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2305364
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author Chiara Altare
Natalya Kostandova
Md Abul Hasan
Jogie Abucejo Agbogan
Md Lalan Miah
Hannah Crockett
Madison Bates
Sharon Leslie
Brigitte Tonon
Caroline Antoine
Paul Spiegel
author_facet Chiara Altare
Natalya Kostandova
Md Abul Hasan
Jogie Abucejo Agbogan
Md Lalan Miah
Hannah Crockett
Madison Bates
Sharon Leslie
Brigitte Tonon
Caroline Antoine
Paul Spiegel
author_sort Chiara Altare
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACTTo respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries introduced public health and social measures that had indirect societal, economic consequences. Concerns during epidemics include continuity of routine health services. We investigate how healthcare utilisation and healthcare seeking behaviour changed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among host communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This mixed-methods study combines quantitative analyses of routine health data and population-based findings about healthcare seeking behaviours. Trends in consultations changed according to facility level (higher-level facilities included Upazila Health Complexes and District Hospitals; lower-level facilities included Community Clinics and Union Health and Family Welfare Centers). At the pandemic’s beginning, drops were seen at higher-level health facilities for outpatient department (OPD) consultations, respiratory infections, and antenatal care. Minor reductions or increases were seen at lower-level facilities for the same services. Half of the subdistricts reported a cumulative increase in OPD and respiratory tract infection consultations. Most subdistricts reported a cumulative decrease in antenatal care. Child vaccinations dropped in all subdistricts, half of which did not catch-up, resulting in a cumulative decrease of delivered doses. Fear of contracting COVID-19 and financial constraints were the main reasons for decreased access. Drivers of healthcare seeking behaviours should be better understood to guide preparedness and service delivery modalities at primary and secondary levels.
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spelling doaj.art-136679e1e5764ab08d4496df5e080c032024-01-22T19:28:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062024-12-0119110.1080/17441692.2024.2305364Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communitiesChiara Altare0Natalya Kostandova1Md Abul Hasan2Jogie Abucejo Agbogan3Md Lalan Miah4Hannah Crockett5Madison Bates6Sharon Leslie7Brigitte Tonon8Caroline Antoine9Paul Spiegel10Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAAction Contre la Faim, Cox's Bazar, BangladeshAction Contre la Faim, Cox's Bazar, BangladeshAction Contre la Faim, Cox's Bazar, BangladeshJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAAction Contre la Faim, Paris, FranceAction Contre la Faim, Paris, FranceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAABSTRACTTo respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries introduced public health and social measures that had indirect societal, economic consequences. Concerns during epidemics include continuity of routine health services. We investigate how healthcare utilisation and healthcare seeking behaviour changed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among host communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This mixed-methods study combines quantitative analyses of routine health data and population-based findings about healthcare seeking behaviours. Trends in consultations changed according to facility level (higher-level facilities included Upazila Health Complexes and District Hospitals; lower-level facilities included Community Clinics and Union Health and Family Welfare Centers). At the pandemic’s beginning, drops were seen at higher-level health facilities for outpatient department (OPD) consultations, respiratory infections, and antenatal care. Minor reductions or increases were seen at lower-level facilities for the same services. Half of the subdistricts reported a cumulative increase in OPD and respiratory tract infection consultations. Most subdistricts reported a cumulative decrease in antenatal care. Child vaccinations dropped in all subdistricts, half of which did not catch-up, resulting in a cumulative decrease of delivered doses. Fear of contracting COVID-19 and financial constraints were the main reasons for decreased access. Drivers of healthcare seeking behaviours should be better understood to guide preparedness and service delivery modalities at primary and secondary levels.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2305364COVID-19health care utilisationhealth care seeking behaviourBangladesh; Cox’s Bazar
spellingShingle Chiara Altare
Natalya Kostandova
Md Abul Hasan
Jogie Abucejo Agbogan
Md Lalan Miah
Hannah Crockett
Madison Bates
Sharon Leslie
Brigitte Tonon
Caroline Antoine
Paul Spiegel
Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities
Global Public Health
COVID-19
health care utilisation
health care seeking behaviour
Bangladesh; Cox’s Bazar
title Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities
title_full Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities
title_fullStr Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities
title_full_unstemmed Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities
title_short Health care utilisation in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities
title_sort health care utilisation in cox s bazar district bangladesh during the first year of the covid 19 pandemic a mixed methods study among host communities
topic COVID-19
health care utilisation
health care seeking behaviour
Bangladesh; Cox’s Bazar
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2305364
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