Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia

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, Ethio...

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Main Authors: Awel S, Ahmed I, Tilahun D, Tegenu K
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2022-08-01
Series:Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/impact-of-covid-19-on-health-seeking-behavior-of-patients-with-chronic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP
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author Awel S
Ahmed I
Tilahun D
Tegenu K
author_facet Awel S
Ahmed I
Tilahun D
Tegenu K
author_sort Awel S
collection DOAJ
description 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 sawel791@gmail.comBackground: 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
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spelling doaj.art-42f1b2a4e4934a5fb6f093ad36ac8a8e2022-12-22T04:00:19ZengDove Medical PressRisk Management and Healthcare Policy1179-15942022-08-01Volume 151491150076964Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West EthiopiaAwel SAhmed ITilahun DTegenu KSamira 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 sawel791@gmail.comBackground: 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, Ethiopiahttps://www.dovepress.com/impact-of-covid-19-on-health-seeking-behavior-of-patients-with-chronic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHPcovid-19health seeking behaviorchronic diseaseethiopia
spellingShingle Awel S
Ahmed I
Tilahun D
Tegenu K
Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
covid-19
health seeking behavior
chronic disease
ethiopia
title Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
title_full Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
title_fullStr Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
title_short Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
title_sort impact of covid 19 on health seeking behavior of patients with chronic disease at public hospitals in jimma zone south west ethiopia
topic covid-19
health seeking behavior
chronic disease
ethiopia
url https://www.dovepress.com/impact-of-covid-19-on-health-seeking-behavior-of-patients-with-chronic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP
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