scholarly journals Effects of Coronavirus Pandemic on Young Adults’ Ability to Access Health Services and Practice Recommended Preventive Measures

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Judith Nalukwago ◽  
Bolanle Olapeju ◽  
Anna Passaniti ◽  
Musa Kimbowa ◽  
Arzum Ciloglu ◽  
...  

Given the limited attention to young adults as key contributors to the spread of COVID-19 in Uganda, this study examines the effects of the outbreak on the ability of young adults aged 18-29 to access health services and practice preventive measures. A national population-based mobile phone survey was conducted in December 2020. Multivariable regression analyses were used to explore the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to health care services. Control variables included region, education level, parity, and source of health information. The majority (98%) perceived COVID-19 as a serious threat to Ugandans. Although the majority reported handwashing (97%) and masking (92%), fewer respondents avoided shaking hands (39%), ensured physical distancing (57%), avoided groups of more than four people (43%), stayed home most days (30%), avoided touching eyes, nose, and mouth (14%), and practiced sneezing/coughing into their elbow (7%). Participants noted that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their ability to access family planning (40%), HIV (49%), maternal health (55%), child health (56%), and malaria (63%) services. The perceived effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on services was higher for those in the Northern region (OR= 2.00, 95% CI 1.00-4.02), those with higher education OR= 2.26, 95% CI 1.28-3.99), those with five plus children (OR= 2.05, 95% CI 0.92-4.56), and those who trust radio for COVID-19 information (OR= 1.65, 95% CI 1.01-2.67). The findings show the pragmatic importance of understanding the dynamic characteristics and behavioral patterns of young adults in the context of COVID-19 to inform targeted programming.

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzana Alves de Moraes ◽  
Daniele Almeida Lopes ◽  
Isabel Cristina Martins de Freitas

Objectives: To identify the access to health care services and associated factors in adults living in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2007. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study with a sample developed in three stages. The variability introduced in the third sampling fraction was corrected by the attribution of weights, resulting in a sample of 2,471 participants. The outcome prevalence was estimated according to socio-demographic, behavioral and health-related variables. In order to identify associated factors, the regression of Poisson was used, obtaining crude and adjusted prevalence ratios. All estimates were calculated taking into account the effect of the sampling design. Results: The outcome prevalence increased according to the age, being higher in female individuals. A different set of variables remained in the final models, considering each gender separately. Among men, the monthly income > R$ 1,400.00; scores > 823.6 to the Economic Indicator of Ribeirão Preto (IERP) and daily average of sitting down time (154.4 - 240 min/day) constituted themselves into protective factors, whereas the increase of age and scholarship, hospitalization, diabetes and hypertension constituted risk factors for the use of the services. Among women, health self-reported as regular, hospitalization, diabetes and hypertension characterized factors positively associated to the outcome at matter. Conclusions: The results indicate the need for planning actions aimed at capturing male individuals, as well as the revaluation of detection and control of diabetes and hypertension programs, aimed at the primary prevention of terminal cardiovascular events.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maija Santalahti ◽  
Kumar Sumit ◽  
Mikko Perkiö

Abstract Background: This study examined access to health care in an occupational context in an urban city of India. Many people migrate from rural areas to cities, often across Indian states, for employment prospects. The purpose of the study is to explore the barriers to accessing health care among a vulnerable group – internal migrants working in the construction sector in Manipal, Karnataka. Understanding the lay workers’ accounts of access to health services can help to comprehend the diversity of factors that hinder access to health care. Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews involving 15 migrant construction workers were conducted. The study applied theory-guided content analysis to investigate access to health services among the construction workers. The adductive analysis combined deductive and inductive approaches with the aim of verifying the existing barrier theory in a vulnerable context and further developing the health care access barrier theory. Results: This study’s result is a revised version of the health care access barriers model, including the dimension of trust. Three known health care access barriers – financial, cognitive and structural, as well as the new barrier (distrust in public health care services), were identified among migrant construction workers in a city context in Karnataka, India. Conclusions: Further qualitative research on vulnerable groups would produce a more comprehensive account of access to health care. The socioeconomic status behind access to health care, as well as distrust in public health services, forms focal challenges for any policymaker hoping to improve health services to match people’s needs.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Racheal Omukhulu Makokha

The last five decades have seen uncountable debates on the impact of decentralization on provision of public services. While it has evidently improved public service delivery in some countries, it has worsened it in others. Kenya implemented devolution in 2013 in the hope of bringing public services nearer to the people. Health was one of the services identified. Yet, the local media has reported negative impact of devolution on provision of health services since 2013. This study sought to look at the actual effect of devolution on access to health care services by analysing secondary quantitative data from the government published data, official statistics, international development agencies’ surveys and reports. Two county governments; Kisumu and Makueni were chosen to represent the urban and rural populations respectively. Contrary to the wider literature on health decentralization, this study found out that devolution did not worsen access to health care services in Kenya. The study attributed this to the nature of devolution adopted in the country where the county governments have considerable authority, decision-making power and responsibility over their counties.


Author(s):  
Katja Çilenti ◽  
Shadia Rask ◽  
Marko Elovainio ◽  
Eero Lilja ◽  
Hannamaria Kuusio ◽  
...  

Equal access to health care is one of the key policy priorities in many European societies. Previous findings suggest that there may be wide differences in the use of health services between people of migrant origin and the general population. We analyzed cross-sectional data from a random sample of persons of Russian (n = 692), Somali (n = 489), and Kurdish (n = 614) origin and the Health 2011 survey data (n = 1406) representing the general population in Finland. Having at least one outpatient visit to any medical doctor during the previous 12 months was at the same level for groups of Russian and Kurdish origin, but lower for people of Somali origin, compared with the general population. Clear differences were found when examining where health care services were sought: people of migrant origin predominantly visited a doctor at municipal health centers whereas the general population also used private and occupational health care. Self-reported need for doctor’s treatment was especially high among Russian women and Kurdish men and women. Compared to the general population, all migrant origin groups reported much higher levels of unmet medical need and were less satisfied with the treatment they had received. Improving basic-level health services would serve besides the population at large, the wellbeing of the population of migrant origin.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saroja Krishnaswamy ◽  
Kavitha Subramaniam ◽  
Wah Yun Low ◽  
Jemain Abdul Aziz ◽  
Tishya Indran ◽  
...  

Objective. This paper examines the factors contributing to the under utilisation of health care services in the Malaysian population. Methodology. Using data derived from Malaysian Mental Health Survey (MMHS) information on utilisation of four basic health services in the previous three months, namely contact with health care professionals, ward admissions, having diagnostic or laboratory tests done and being on any medications were obtained. Results. A total of 2202 out of 3666 or 60% of the MMHS participants were included in this study. Thirty percent of the subjects (n = 664) had contacts with health care professionals. Those with health complications, disabilities and those aged 50 years and above utilised health services more significantly as compared to those who lacked health facilities near their homes, had little family support during illnesses and were from the Chinese ethnic group. Conclusion. Factors leading to the under utilisation of health care services need to be further studied and needs in certain groups in the population should be addressed. Healthcare providers must be prepared to fulfil these needs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (Special_Issue_1) ◽  
pp. i22-i35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theoni Stathopoulou ◽  
Lydia Avrami ◽  
Anastasia Kostaki ◽  
Jennifer Cavounidis ◽  
Terje Andreas Eikemo

Abstract This study identifies factors that affect safety, health and trauma among refugees and asylum seekers newly arrived and accommodated in Greece. The data of this study was collected from the REHEAL (Refugees’ Healing) project—a population-based survey conducted in six Greek refugee camps during the summer of 2016. We specified two binary logistic-regression models—one for safety and a second for health—as well as a multiple linear-regression model for the trauma score. Safety, health and trauma among refugees appear to be attributable to both pre- and post-displacement factors. The analysis shows that the mental and physical wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers is strongly affected by post-displacement factors and, more specifically, by exposure to stressors in host countries, such as poor living conditions, limited access to health-care services and uncertainty about the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (suppl 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elton Carlos de Almeida ◽  
Josué Souza Gleriano ◽  
Flavia Kelli Alvarenga Pinto ◽  
Ronaldo de Almeida Coelho ◽  
Simone Monzani Vivaldini ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the distribution of health care services for viral hepatitis and reported cases of viral hepatitis according to the health regions of Northern Brazil. Method: It is an evaluative, descriptive and quantitative research considering viral hepatitis care services and reported cases in the Northern region of Brazil, using data collected from the National Registry of Health Establishments and the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Descriptive statistics and georeferencing, through software, were used to demonstrate the spatial distribution of services and reported cases. Results: Viral hepatitis health services are distributed in a differentiated way; rapid tests are capillaries in the states; confirmatory tests and treatment are performed in some health regions, with a greater grouping of services in the capitals and their surroundings. Cases were reported across all regions, with areas of higher concentration near services. Conclusion: The availability of services can favor access to prevention, diagnosis and monitoring of cases. However, organizational peculiarities of the health system and services highlight fragilities that have repercussions on the access and entirety of viral hepatitis care.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maija Santalahti ◽  
Kumar Sumit ◽  
Mikko Perkiö

Abstract Background: This study examined access to health care in an occupational context in an urban city of India. Many people migrate from rural areas to cities, often across Indian states, for employment prospects. The purpose of the study is to explore the barriers to accessing health care among a vulnerable group – internal migrants working in the construction sector in Manipal, Karnataka. Understanding the lay workers’ accounts of access to health service can help to comprehend the diversity of factors that hinder access to health care. Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews involving 15 migrant construction workers were conducted. The study applied theory-guided content analysis to investigate access to health services among the construction workers. The adductive analysis combined deductive and inductive approaches with the aim of verifying the existing barrier theory in a vulnerable context and further developing the health-care access barrier theory. Results: This study’s result is a revised version of the health-care access barriers model, including the dimension of trust. Three known health-care access barriers – financial, cognitive and structural, as well as the new barrier (distrust in public health-care services), were identified among migrant construction workers in a city context in Karnataka, India.Conclusions: Further qualitative research on vulnerable groups would produce a more comprehensive account of access to health care. The socioeconomic status behind access to health care, as well as distrust in public health services, forms focal challenges for any policymaker hoping to improve health services to match people’s needs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maija Santalahti ◽  
Kumar Sumit ◽  
Mikko Perkiö

Abstract Background: This study examined access to health care in an occupational context in an urban city of India. Many people migrate from rural areas to cities, often across Indian states, for employment prospects. The purpose of the study is to explore the barriers to accessing health care among a vulnerable group – internal migrants working in the construction sector in Manipal, Karnataka. Understanding the lay workers’ accounts of access to health service can help to comprehend the diversity of factors that hinder access to health care. Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews involving 15 migrant construction workers were conducted. The study applied theory-guided content analysis to investigate access to health services among the construction workers. The adductive analysis combined deductive and inductive approaches with the aim of verifying the existing barrier theory in a vulnerable context and further developing the health care access barrier theory. Results: This study’s result is a revised version of the health care access barriers model, including the dimension of trust. Three known health care access barriers – financial, cognitive and structural, as well as the new barrier (distrust in public health care services), were identified among migrant construction workers in a city context in Karnataka, India. Conclusions: Further qualitative research on vulnerable groups would produce a more comprehensive account of access to health care. The socioeconomic status behind access to health care, as well as distrust in public health services, forms focal challenges for any policymaker hoping to improve health services to match people’s needs.


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