Table 2 Barriers to seeking essential health services in communities before the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 110)
n | (%) | |
|---|---|---|
Informational and cultural reasons | ||
Not knowing about available services | 73 | 66.3 |
Traditional or folk medicines are preferred | 26 | 23.6 |
Physical access and cost reasons | ||
Health facilities too far | 45 | 40.9 |
Lack of transportation to facilities | 52 | 47.2 |
Lack of transportation for referral between facilities | 30 | 27.2 |
Service fees too high | 19 | 17.2 |
Informal payments or bribes are expected | 5 | 4.5 |
Facility reasons | ||
Perceived lack of health workers at facilities | 19 | 17.2 |
Perceived lack of medicines at facilities | 26 | 23.6 |
Perceived lack of equipment at facilities | 14 | 12.7 |
Perceived lack of culturally or religiously sensitive services | 17 | 15.4 |
Disrespectful providers at facilities | 5 | 4.5 |
Mistrust of providers or facilities | 3 | 2.7 |
Discrimination against certain communities | 4 | 3.6 |
Inconvenient opening hours | 2 | 1.8 |
Long wait time | 24 | 21.8 |
Other | 9 | 8.1 |
Changes in people’s experience in getting health care during the COVID-19 pandemic | ||
No changes | 56 | 50.9 |
Moderately changed | 38 | 34.5 |
Strongly changed | 12 | 10.9 |