Unmet healthcare needs during COVID-19
General Medicine, 2023, 25(6), 9-14.
E. Naseva1, M. Baev2, G. Baev3, G. Stoilchev4
1 Faculty of Public Health „Prof. Tsekomir Vodenicharov, MD, DSc“, MU – Sofia
2 Astra Forum Foundation
3 National Military University “Vasil Levski” – Veliko Tarnovo
4 New Bulgarian University – Sofia
Abstract. The aim of this article is to estimate the proportion of patients with unmet healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria and to identify factors for inclusion into this group among the demographic characteristics of the respondents. Materials and methods. The survey was conducted online among 930 individuals aged 16 and over at the end of 2020. Results. Since the beginning of the pandemic, one in three respondents (34.1%) reported a need for medical examination, laboratory testing or treatment that they did not receive or had to postpone. The most common explanations were “I did not want to take the risk of COVID-19 infection due to the need for other treatment” followed by “Unable to see a doctor or receive treatment due to the pandemic”. Individuals with unmet healthcare needs had significantly lower life satisfaction as well as significantly lower self-assessment of their health (p < 0.001). Women, elderly, less educated and those who rate their standard of living below the national average are at the highest risk of delaying/not receiving health services. Most of the identified factors for unmet healthcare needs are interrelated and predispose to chronic diseases. Conclusion. During a pandemic, the most vulnerable to chronic diseases patients should be identified and encouraged not to postpone undergoing the health interventions they need in order to prevent irreversible health consequences.
Key words: pandemic, COVID-19, healthcare needs, healthcare avoidance, coronavirus
Address for correspondence: Emiliya Naseva, PhD, e-mail: e.naseva@foz.mu-sofia.bg