COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational study
IntroductionThe multiple risks generated by the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the debate about healthcare access and coverage. Whether the burden of disease caused by the coronavirus outbreak changed public opinion about healthcare provision remains unclear. In this study, it was specifically examin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1213037/full |
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| author | Claudia F. Nisa Claudia F. Nisa Claudia F. Nisa Xiaoxi Yan Bibhas Chakraborty Pontus Leander Jocelyn J. Bélanger Jocelyn J. Bélanger |
| author_facet | Claudia F. Nisa Claudia F. Nisa Claudia F. Nisa Xiaoxi Yan Bibhas Chakraborty Pontus Leander Jocelyn J. Bélanger Jocelyn J. Bélanger |
| author_sort | Claudia F. Nisa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe multiple risks generated by the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the debate about healthcare access and coverage. Whether the burden of disease caused by the coronavirus outbreak changed public opinion about healthcare provision remains unclear. In this study, it was specifically examined if the pandemic changed support for governmental intervention in healthcare as a proxy to support for universal health coverage (UHC). It also examined which psychological factors related to the socioeconomic interdependence exposed by the pandemic may be associated with a potential change.MethodsOnline survey data was collected over 18 months (from March 2020 to August 2021) across 73 countries, containing various social attitudes and risk perceptions related to COVID-19. This was a convenience sample composed of voluntary participants (N = 3,176; age 18 years and above).ResultsThe results show that support for government intervention in healthcare increased across geographical regions, age groups, and gender groups (an average increase of 39%), more than the support for government intervention in other social welfare issues. Factors related to socioeconomic interdependence predicted increased support for government intervention in healthcare, namely, social solidarity (ß = 0.14, p < 0.0001), and risk to economic livelihood (ß = 0.09, p < 0.0001). Trust in the government to deal with COVID-19 decreased over time, and this negative trajectory predicted a demand for better future government intervention in healthcare (ß = −0.10, p = 0.0003).ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic may have been a potential turning point in the global public support for UHC, as evidenced by a higher level of consensus that governments should be guarantors of healthcare. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:21:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0af1e42e1414e3c8448a4ac2280f580 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:21:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0af1e42e1414e3c8448a4ac2280f5802023-08-25T20:22:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-08-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.12130371213037COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational studyClaudia F. Nisa0Claudia F. Nisa1Claudia F. Nisa2Xiaoxi Yan3Bibhas Chakraborty4Pontus Leander5Jocelyn J. Bélanger6Jocelyn J. Bélanger7Division of Social Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, ChinaGlobal Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, ChinaNew York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesDuke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, SingaporeDuke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, SingaporeCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United StatesNew York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCarnegie-Mellon University Qatar, Qatar Education City, Doha, QatarIntroductionThe multiple risks generated by the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the debate about healthcare access and coverage. Whether the burden of disease caused by the coronavirus outbreak changed public opinion about healthcare provision remains unclear. In this study, it was specifically examined if the pandemic changed support for governmental intervention in healthcare as a proxy to support for universal health coverage (UHC). It also examined which psychological factors related to the socioeconomic interdependence exposed by the pandemic may be associated with a potential change.MethodsOnline survey data was collected over 18 months (from March 2020 to August 2021) across 73 countries, containing various social attitudes and risk perceptions related to COVID-19. This was a convenience sample composed of voluntary participants (N = 3,176; age 18 years and above).ResultsThe results show that support for government intervention in healthcare increased across geographical regions, age groups, and gender groups (an average increase of 39%), more than the support for government intervention in other social welfare issues. Factors related to socioeconomic interdependence predicted increased support for government intervention in healthcare, namely, social solidarity (ß = 0.14, p < 0.0001), and risk to economic livelihood (ß = 0.09, p < 0.0001). Trust in the government to deal with COVID-19 decreased over time, and this negative trajectory predicted a demand for better future government intervention in healthcare (ß = −0.10, p = 0.0003).ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic may have been a potential turning point in the global public support for UHC, as evidenced by a higher level of consensus that governments should be guarantors of healthcare.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1213037/fullCOVID-19universal health caresocial cohesiongroup solidarityrisk assessmenttrust |
| spellingShingle | Claudia F. Nisa Claudia F. Nisa Claudia F. Nisa Xiaoxi Yan Bibhas Chakraborty Pontus Leander Jocelyn J. Bélanger Jocelyn J. Bélanger COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational study Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 universal health care social cohesion group solidarity risk assessment trust |
| title | COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational study |
| title_full | COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational study |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational study |
| title_short | COVID-19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage: multi-country observational study |
| title_sort | covid 19 may have increased global support for universal health coverage multi country observational study |
| topic | COVID-19 universal health care social cohesion group solidarity risk assessment trust |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1213037/full |
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