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. 2022 Dec 3;12(12):495.
doi: 10.3390/bs12120495.

Population Perspectives on Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Essential Health Services-Behavioral Insights from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Šeila Cilović-Lagarija  1 , Sanjin Musa  2 , Nino Hasanica  3 , Goran Čerkez  4 , Mirza Palo  5 , Marek Majdan  6   7 , Martha Scherzer  8 , Katrine Bach Habersaat  9 , Catherine Smallwood  7 , Ardita Tahirukaj  7 , Dorit Nitzan  10
Affiliations

Population Perspectives on Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Essential Health Services-Behavioral Insights from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Šeila Cilović-Lagarija et al. Behav Sci (Basel). .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; access to health care services; essential health services; health systems preparedness and resilience.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Some aspects of self-perceived access to care and postponements of care in the adult population of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 pandemic by region.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Associations between selected endpoints of barriers of access to care, postponements of care, and increased expenses for medicines and health care with relevant predictors; logistic regression adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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