TY - JOUR
T1 - Population Perspectives on Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Essential Health Services-Behavioral Insights from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
AU - Cilović-Lagarija, Šeila
AU - Musa, Sanjin
AU - Hasanica, Nino
AU - Čerkez, Goran
AU - Palo, Mirza
AU - Majdan, Marek
AU - Scherzer, Martha
AU - Habersaat, Katrine Bach
AU - Smallwood, Catherine
AU - Tahirukaj, Ardita
AU - Nitzan, Dorit
N1 - Funding Information:
No funding was received for this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
PY - 2022/12/3
Y1 - 2022/12/3
N2 - The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of use of essential health services (EHS), health-seeking behaviors, and population health and wellbeing in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) from the perspective of its adult population. A population-based survey was implemented in the FBiH in December 2020 on a sample of 1068 adults. Overall, 64% of respondents received care, significantly more being women (67% vs. 61%,
p = 0.046), those with a chronic disease (CD) (75% vs. 65%,
p < 0.001), and of an older age (58% in 18-34 vs. 67% in older,
p = 0.031). These groups also postponed care more often (39% in 55+ vs. 31% in 18-34 years old,
p = 0.01; 55% with CD vs. 31% without,
p < 0.001; and 43% in females vs. 32% males,
p < 0.001). Main reasons for postponing care were lack of available appointments and fear of infection. The presence of a CD was the strongest predictor of need, access, and disruptions of health care. Respondents reported increased expenses for medicines (40%) and health services (30%). The findings of the survey add user insights into EHS disruptions to existing health statistics and other data and may be used to inform strategies for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on the disruption of health care services, strengthening health system preparedness and building resilience for future emergencies.
AB - The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of use of essential health services (EHS), health-seeking behaviors, and population health and wellbeing in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) from the perspective of its adult population. A population-based survey was implemented in the FBiH in December 2020 on a sample of 1068 adults. Overall, 64% of respondents received care, significantly more being women (67% vs. 61%,
p = 0.046), those with a chronic disease (CD) (75% vs. 65%,
p < 0.001), and of an older age (58% in 18-34 vs. 67% in older,
p = 0.031). These groups also postponed care more often (39% in 55+ vs. 31% in 18-34 years old,
p = 0.01; 55% with CD vs. 31% without,
p < 0.001; and 43% in females vs. 32% males,
p < 0.001). Main reasons for postponing care were lack of available appointments and fear of infection. The presence of a CD was the strongest predictor of need, access, and disruptions of health care. Respondents reported increased expenses for medicines (40%) and health services (30%). The findings of the survey add user insights into EHS disruptions to existing health statistics and other data and may be used to inform strategies for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on the disruption of health care services, strengthening health system preparedness and building resilience for future emergencies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144684464&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/bs12120495
DO - 10.3390/bs12120495
M3 - Article
C2 - 36546978
SN - 2076-328X
VL - 12
JO - Behavioral Sciences
JF - Behavioral Sciences
IS - 12
M1 - 495
ER -
