Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post Analysis
Following COVID-19 containment measures, healthcare service utilization was expected to decline, including in Kenya, across all healthcare tiers. We investigated the impact on community-level health indicators before and during the pandemic. This pre-post study examined community health utilization...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580251338681 |
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| author | Prabhjot Kaur Juttla BSc Bernard Kimani BSc Moses Kamita PhD Teresia Kariuki MPH Naomi Wachira MPH Alfred Owino Odongo PhD Magoma Mwancha-Kwasa MPH |
| author_facet | Prabhjot Kaur Juttla BSc Bernard Kimani BSc Moses Kamita PhD Teresia Kariuki MPH Naomi Wachira MPH Alfred Owino Odongo PhD Magoma Mwancha-Kwasa MPH |
| author_sort | Prabhjot Kaur Juttla BSc |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Following COVID-19 containment measures, healthcare service utilization was expected to decline, including in Kenya, across all healthcare tiers. We investigated the impact on community-level health indicators before and during the pandemic. This pre-post study examined community health utilization in 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020 (pandemic year) from March to December. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, followed by Mann-Whitney U or Welch t -tests as appropriate. During the pandemic, facility deliveries (159.2 ± 39.0 vs 496.4 ± 288.2; +237.96%, P = .0232) and ANC referrals (191.0 ± 55.3 vs 630.1 ± 287.2; +229.89%, P = .0008) increased significantly. Child immunization referrals also rose (57.3 ± 11.7 vs 350.2 ± 259.3; +511.17%, P = .0060), while diarrhea treatments in children declined (59.2 ± 47.6 vs 9.2 ± 6.7; −84.46%, P = .0001). Diabetes referrals increased (108.7 ± 65.3 vs 319.5 ± 310.2; +211.15%, P = .035). Households with handwashing facilities saw a non-significant rise (78073.7 ± 16367.9 vs 118457.9 ± 90291.8; +51.73%, P = .3527). Community-level prevention and promotion programs persisted and were enhanced, due to increased fiscal and training support. Even amid crises, community health strategies can adapt and thrive with proper training and funding. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6f2b2b12fdb4f16b6e24d0505e44b36 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0046-9580 1945-7243 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6f2b2b12fdb4f16b6e24d0505e44b362025-08-20T03:48:19ZengSAGE PublishingInquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing0046-95801945-72432025-05-016210.1177/00469580251338681Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post AnalysisPrabhjot Kaur Juttla BSc0Bernard Kimani BSc1Moses Kamita PhD2Teresia Kariuki MPH3Naomi Wachira MPH4Alfred Owino Odongo PhD5Magoma Mwancha-Kwasa MPH6School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi County, KenyaDepartment of Health, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, KenyaSchool of Public Health, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kiambu County, KenyaDepartment of Health, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, KenyaDepartment of Health, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, KenyaSchool of Public Health, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kiambu County, KenyaDepartment of Health, County Government of Kiambu, Kiambu County, KenyaFollowing COVID-19 containment measures, healthcare service utilization was expected to decline, including in Kenya, across all healthcare tiers. We investigated the impact on community-level health indicators before and during the pandemic. This pre-post study examined community health utilization in 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020 (pandemic year) from March to December. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, followed by Mann-Whitney U or Welch t -tests as appropriate. During the pandemic, facility deliveries (159.2 ± 39.0 vs 496.4 ± 288.2; +237.96%, P = .0232) and ANC referrals (191.0 ± 55.3 vs 630.1 ± 287.2; +229.89%, P = .0008) increased significantly. Child immunization referrals also rose (57.3 ± 11.7 vs 350.2 ± 259.3; +511.17%, P = .0060), while diarrhea treatments in children declined (59.2 ± 47.6 vs 9.2 ± 6.7; −84.46%, P = .0001). Diabetes referrals increased (108.7 ± 65.3 vs 319.5 ± 310.2; +211.15%, P = .035). Households with handwashing facilities saw a non-significant rise (78073.7 ± 16367.9 vs 118457.9 ± 90291.8; +51.73%, P = .3527). Community-level prevention and promotion programs persisted and were enhanced, due to increased fiscal and training support. Even amid crises, community health strategies can adapt and thrive with proper training and funding.https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580251338681 |
| spellingShingle | Prabhjot Kaur Juttla BSc Bernard Kimani BSc Moses Kamita PhD Teresia Kariuki MPH Naomi Wachira MPH Alfred Owino Odongo PhD Magoma Mwancha-Kwasa MPH Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post Analysis Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| title | Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post Analysis |
| title_full | Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post Analysis |
| title_short | Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community Health Services: A Pre-post Analysis |
| title_sort | assessing the effect of the covid 19 pandemic on community health services a pre post analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580251338681 |
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