ABSTRACT Objectives: 1) To explore the possible impact of the pandemic on the health seeking behavior of the patients, 2) To explore the relation of socio-demographics on the utility of health-care facilities Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by enrolling all patients ≥15 years of age presenting to the Out-Patient-Department of three main public-hospitals after obtaining ethical committee approval A questionnaire with validated Urdu translation was filled by each participant that included socio-demographic data, pre-Covid and Covid-19 era health seeking behaviors and the impact of the pandemic on the utilization of healthcare facilities Data was analyzed using SPSS V 19 Results: A total of 393 patients were enrolled with a male preponderance (72%) and a median age range of 31-45 years Fifty-eight percent of the study population was unemployed and 47 3% were seeking follow up care The frequency of ER and multiple (&gt;4 times) OPD visits were significantly decreased in the Covid-19 times whereas, the laboratory and radiology services were largely unaffected A significant number of patients were not satisfied with the current healthcare facilities that was seen irrespective of the socio-demographic status Emergency Room and radiology services were largely unaffected whereas, elective procedures and laboratory facilities were reported to be severely affected or delayed in relation to socio-demographic variables Conclusions: Healthcare inequalities have widened and depression has shown a sharp rise during this pandemic The over-burdened healthcare facilities at the verge of collapse may miss out on the chronic non-Covid patients which would ultimately lead to increased morbidity and mortality
Amid COVID-19 pandemic, are non-COVID patients left in the lurch?