COVID-19- Effects on Primary Health Care Services in Urban Field Practice Area of KIMS, Hubballi –A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background:- The nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the globalpopulation in drastic ways. It was a health emergency in health care services impeding a lot of otherservices specially primary health care services and issue of proper referral of patients for adequate care.Methodology:- A cross-sectional study was conducted for duration of one month during August-September 2021 among 200 participants aged more than 18 years visiting Urban Primary Health Centreat Old Hubballi, selected by random convenient sampling. Data collected was entered in MS Excel andanalyzed using SPSS version 25.Results:- 72.5% respondents preferred PHC over government hospital or private clinics for theirtreatment. 15% respondents were not satisfied with the services provided in PHC due to COVIDpandemic. The average number of OPD cases was reduced by 50% and routine immunization by 80%during lockdown. The routine laboratory investigations fell by 33% of the pre-COVID time.Conclusions:- The country’s primary health care system suffered a major setback in terms of its routineservices like providing treatment, routine immunizations etc. as the concentration shifted to pandemiccontrol. And now with time, as the country’s health care system is recovering, the progress is slow.