Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Utilization and Delivery of Healthcare Services among Outpatients during the Early Phase of the Pandemic in Nigeria.

Abstract

During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, some infection control measures were implemented to keep people safe and control the spread of the virus. These measures however were observed to cause significant delay or interruption in the delivery and utilization of healthcare services. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization and delivery of healthcare services by outpatients in Nigeria during the early phase of the pandemic. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was utilized. We sampled 373 outpatients who had received healthcare services before and during the pandemic in the University College Hospital, Ibadan using convenience sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test) were carried out and the level of significance was set as P<0.05. Healthcare utilization was significantly impacted by the pandemic as there was a reduction in hospital visits by patients during the pandemic (P<0.0003). Restriction of movement and fear of contracting the virus was identified as reasons for the reduction in healthcare services utilization in about 59% of the participants. Patients rated the quality healthcare services delivered to them as 'average' during the pandemic as opposed to 'good' before the pandemic. The findings of this study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on patients' utilization of healthcare services as well as the delivery of adequate healthcare services in the hospital during the early phases of the pandemic. Therefore, we recommend that efforts be made to improve hospitals and nationwide preparedness for future pandemics to prevent healthcare interference and delay.