TY - JOUR
T1 - HEALTH SERVICES AVOIDANCE AND SELF-TREATMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
T2 - EVIDENCE FROM RURAL INDIA
AU - Savitha, Basri
AU - Shelley, Adithya
AU - Kumar, Naveen K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Australasian College of Health Service Management. All right reserved.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - OBJECTIVES: This paper is one of the first studies that identifies factors that inhibit access to healthcare services and healthcare-seeking behaviour (HCSB) in rural India during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The data source was the household sample survey of the World Bank on 'COVID-19-Related Shocks in Rural India 2020, Rounds 1-3'. Binomial and multinomial regression analysis was carried out to estimate the determinants of health care avoidance and HCSB. RESULTS: Families belonging to low consumption quartiles not only delayed obtaining health care but also underutilized formal health resources at public and private facilities. The majority of non-agricultural households, as well as those that reduced their consumption during the outbreak, were forced to self-medicate through pharmacies. Family planning, immunization, child growth monitoring, and routine medical check-ups were among the services that were not availed during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study emphasize the need of removing financial obstacles to care during the COVID-19, as well as the importance of child-related care continuity (child development monitoring, antenatal care, and immunization) and routine check-ups.
AB - OBJECTIVES: This paper is one of the first studies that identifies factors that inhibit access to healthcare services and healthcare-seeking behaviour (HCSB) in rural India during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The data source was the household sample survey of the World Bank on 'COVID-19-Related Shocks in Rural India 2020, Rounds 1-3'. Binomial and multinomial regression analysis was carried out to estimate the determinants of health care avoidance and HCSB. RESULTS: Families belonging to low consumption quartiles not only delayed obtaining health care but also underutilized formal health resources at public and private facilities. The majority of non-agricultural households, as well as those that reduced their consumption during the outbreak, were forced to self-medicate through pharmacies. Family planning, immunization, child growth monitoring, and routine medical check-ups were among the services that were not availed during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study emphasize the need of removing financial obstacles to care during the COVID-19, as well as the importance of child-related care continuity (child development monitoring, antenatal care, and immunization) and routine check-ups.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141265360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85141265360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.24083/apjhm.v17i2.1259
DO - 10.24083/apjhm.v17i2.1259
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85141265360
SN - 2204-3136
VL - 17
JO - Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management
JF - Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management
IS - 2
M1 - 1259
ER -
