Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the Philippines
Abstract Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges in adolescent health have been exacerbated including increased cases of early marriages, domestic violence, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and reduced access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents. This st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15102-2 |
| _version_ | 1797863370971414528 |
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| author | Adeyemi Okunogbe Meagan Meekins Khalida Saalim Mary Angeli Conti-Lopez Rosario Marilyn Benabaye Ophelia M. Mendoza Rio Julio Laurentiu Stan Cristina Bisson |
| author_facet | Adeyemi Okunogbe Meagan Meekins Khalida Saalim Mary Angeli Conti-Lopez Rosario Marilyn Benabaye Ophelia M. Mendoza Rio Julio Laurentiu Stan Cristina Bisson |
| author_sort | Adeyemi Okunogbe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges in adolescent health have been exacerbated including increased cases of early marriages, domestic violence, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and reduced access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents. This study examines the impacts of the pandemic on adolescent health services utilization and potential adaptations in the Philippines. Methods The data used in this study was from a rapid telephone assessment survey of 148 adolescent-friendly health facilities (rural health units) in the Philippines. We employed a mixed-methods research approach comprising both quantitative and qualitative analyses in three phases. First, we conducted a descriptive analysis of the status of adolescent healthcare access and utilization during COVID-19. Next, we examined using multivariate ordered logistic regressions how staff availability and adolescent health (AH) service provision modalities influenced AH service utilization in terms of the average number of adolescents served per week during compared to before the pandemic. We also conducted a complementing qualitative analysis of the challenges and corresponding adaptive solutions to ensuring continuity of AH services in facilities. Results We find that two months into the pandemic, 79% of adolescent-friendly trained staff were reporting for duty and 64% of facilities reported no staff disruptions. However, only 13% of facilities were serving the same number of adolescents or greater than before COVID-19. The use of more modalities for AH service provision (including telehealth) by facilities was significantly associated with increased likelihood to report serving the same number of adolescent or greater than before COVID-19 compared to those who used only one modality. Conclusion Investments in multiple modalities of care provision, such as telehealth could improve AH services utilization and help sustain connection with adolescents during shocks, including future outbreaks or other stressors that limit physical access to health facilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:34:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc38be68b21a4bd3a2e733a2543ddde0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:34:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc38be68b21a4bd3a2e733a2543ddde02023-03-22T12:36:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-03-0123111010.1186/s12889-023-15102-2Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the PhilippinesAdeyemi Okunogbe0Meagan Meekins1Khalida Saalim2Mary Angeli Conti-Lopez3Rosario Marilyn Benabaye4Ophelia M. Mendoza5Rio Julio6Laurentiu Stan7Cristina Bisson8Global Health Division, RTI InternationalGlobal Health Division, RTI InternationalGlobal Health Division, RTI InternationalUSAID ReachHealth Project, RTI InternationalUSAID ReachHealth Project, RTI InternationalUSAID ReachHealth Project, RTI InternationalUSAID ReachHealth Project, RTI InternationalUSAID ReachHealth Project, RTI InternationalGlobal Health Division, RTI InternationalAbstract Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges in adolescent health have been exacerbated including increased cases of early marriages, domestic violence, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and reduced access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents. This study examines the impacts of the pandemic on adolescent health services utilization and potential adaptations in the Philippines. Methods The data used in this study was from a rapid telephone assessment survey of 148 adolescent-friendly health facilities (rural health units) in the Philippines. We employed a mixed-methods research approach comprising both quantitative and qualitative analyses in three phases. First, we conducted a descriptive analysis of the status of adolescent healthcare access and utilization during COVID-19. Next, we examined using multivariate ordered logistic regressions how staff availability and adolescent health (AH) service provision modalities influenced AH service utilization in terms of the average number of adolescents served per week during compared to before the pandemic. We also conducted a complementing qualitative analysis of the challenges and corresponding adaptive solutions to ensuring continuity of AH services in facilities. Results We find that two months into the pandemic, 79% of adolescent-friendly trained staff were reporting for duty and 64% of facilities reported no staff disruptions. However, only 13% of facilities were serving the same number of adolescents or greater than before COVID-19. The use of more modalities for AH service provision (including telehealth) by facilities was significantly associated with increased likelihood to report serving the same number of adolescent or greater than before COVID-19 compared to those who used only one modality. Conclusion Investments in multiple modalities of care provision, such as telehealth could improve AH services utilization and help sustain connection with adolescents during shocks, including future outbreaks or other stressors that limit physical access to health facilities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15102-2Adolescent sexual and reproductive healthAdolescent mental healthCOVID-19 pandemicHealth utilizationPhilippinesLow and middle income countries |
| spellingShingle | Adeyemi Okunogbe Meagan Meekins Khalida Saalim Mary Angeli Conti-Lopez Rosario Marilyn Benabaye Ophelia M. Mendoza Rio Julio Laurentiu Stan Cristina Bisson Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the Philippines BMC Public Health Adolescent sexual and reproductive health Adolescent mental health COVID-19 pandemic Health utilization Philippines Low and middle income countries |
| title | Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the Philippines |
| title_full | Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the Philippines |
| title_fullStr | Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the Philippines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the Philippines |
| title_short | Utilization of adolescent health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the Philippines |
| title_sort | utilization of adolescent health services during the covid 19 pandemic evidence on impact and adaptations from a rapid assessment survey in the philippines |
| topic | Adolescent sexual and reproductive health Adolescent mental health COVID-19 pandemic Health utilization Philippines Low and middle income countries |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15102-2 |
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