The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilization among patients with chronic non-communicable diseases in Ghana
- 1Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted health systems globally and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) leading to reduction of health service utilization (HSU). Patients with non- communicable diseases (NCDs) had increased morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to determine the changes and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HSU among patients with NCDs comparing an epicentre to a non-epicentre region in Ghana.
MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional observational study of patients with NCD in the Ashanti and Northern regions in Ghana from 14th April 2024 to 31st July 2024. We distributed questionnaires to patients with NCD in selected facilities in the Northern and Ashanti regions of Ghana. The Andersens Behavioural Model was used as the conceptual framework to determine the factors affecting HSU. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent variables predicting reduction in HSU. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
ResultsThe study included 844 participants with NCDs equally sampled in the Ashanti and Northern regions of Ghana. The mean age of respondents was 61.4{+/-}11.6 years with 569(67%) females. Almost half 367 (43.5%) of all respondents reported COVID-19 led to a decrease in their HSU and over a third of respondents, 303(35.9%) missed their hospital appointments. The proportion of respondents reporting a decrease in HSU was significantly higher in the Northern region 276 (65.4%) than the Ashanti region 91 (21.6%), [p<0.001]. Reduction in HSU was associated with increasing age (aOR=0.97, 0.96 - 0.99, p<0.001), Northern region residence (aOR=9.60 CI 6.43 - 14.32, p<0.001), higher household income (aOR=1.36 CI 1.15-1.60, p<0.001), longer duration of NCD (aOR=1.03, CI 1.01 - 1.06, p=0.033) and possession of valid NHIS card (aOR=7.43, CI 2.44 - 22.57, p <0.001).
ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic led to reduction in HSU in Ghana. There was a significant reduction in NCDs in a non-epicentre region (Northern region) compared to the Ashanti region which was an epicenter region. Hence patients in non-epicentres should also be prioritized in pandemic situations.
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BibTeX
@misc{tannor2026impact,
title = {{The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilization among patients with chronic non-communicable diseases in Ghana}},
author = {E. K. Tannor and S. Newton and R. Busse and S. Gatorwu and J. K. Safo and R. Adjei and J. Amuasi and W. Quentin},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.03.26362130},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.26362130v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilization among patients with chronic non-communicable diseases in Ghana
AU - E. K. Tannor
AU - S. Newton
AU - R. Busse
AU - S. Gatorwu
AU - J. K. Safo
AU - R. Adjei
AU - J. Amuasi
AU - W. Quentin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.03.26362130
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.26362130v1
AB - BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted health systems globally and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) leading to reduction of health service utilization (HSU). Patients with non- communicable diseases (NCDs) had increased morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to determine the changes and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HSU among patients with NCDs comparing an epicentre to a non-epicentre region in Ghana. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional observational study of patients with NCD in the Ashanti and Northern regions in Ghana from 14th April 2024 to 31st July 2024. We distributed questionnaires to patients with NCD in selected facilities in the Northern and Ashanti regions of Ghana. The Andersens Behavioural Model was used as the conceptual framework to determine the factors affecting HSU. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent variables predicting reduction in HSU. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsThe study included 844 participants with NCDs equally sampled in the Ashanti and Northern regions of Ghana. The mean age of respondents was 61.4{+/-}11.6 years with 569(67%) females. Almost half 367 (43.5%) of all respondents reported COVID-19 led to a decrease in their HSU and over a third of respondents, 303(35.9%) missed their hospital appointments. The proportion of respondents reporting a decrease in HSU was significantly higher in the Northern region 276 (65.4%) than the Ashanti region 91 (21.6%), [p<0.001]. Reduction in HSU was associated with increasing age (aOR=0.97, 0.96 - 0.99, p<0.001), Northern region residence (aOR=9.60 CI 6.43 - 14.32, p<0.001), higher household income (aOR=1.36 CI 1.15-1.60, p<0.001), longer duration of NCD (aOR=1.03, CI 1.01 - 1.06, p=0.033) and possession of valid NHIS card (aOR=7.43, CI 2.44 - 22.57, p <0.001). ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic led to reduction in HSU in Ghana. There was a significant reduction in NCDs in a non-epicentre region (Northern region) compared to the Ashanti region which was an epicenter region. Hence patients in non-epicentres should also be prioritized in pandemic situations.
ER -