Factors Associated with Healthcare Utilization among Adults in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic
: Gaffar, Balgis; Quadri, Mir Faeq Ali; Folayan, Morenike Oluwatoyin; Brown, Brandon; El Tantawi, Maha; Al-Khanati, Nuraldeen Maher; Okeibunor, Joseph Chukwudi; Nzimande, Ntombifuthi P.; Virtanen, Jorma I.; Ellakany, Passent; Aly, Nourhan M.; Ishabiyi, Anthonia Omotola; Lawal, Folake Barakat; Yousaf, Muhammad Abrar; Jafer, Mohammed; Ezechi, Oliver; Ara, Eshrat; Ayanore, Martin Amogri; Idigbe, Ifeoma; Abeldaño, Giuliana Florencia; Khan, Abeedha Tu-Allah; Popoola, Bamidele Olubukola; Uzochukwu, Benjamin; Abeldaño Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel; Ndembi, Nicaise; Khalid, Zumama; Lusher, Joanne; Nguyen, Annie Lu
Publisher: Sage
: 2024
: Sage open
: 14
: 2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241247373
: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440241247373
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/454674923
To investigate factors associated with healthcare utilization by adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services utilization, we conducted logistic regressions to determine the relationship between predisposing factors (age, gender, education, employment status), need factors (critical medical needs), and enabling factors (insurance coverage, financial loss) on healthcare utilization (challenges accessing medical health care needs, resorting to alternative care, unable to attend medical appointments) as the main outcome. Data of 958 adults residing in KSA were extracted. Financial loss increased the odds of challenges in accessing healthcare (OR: 1.73) and lowered the odds of resorting to alternative medical care (OR: 0.63) and inability to attend healthcare appointments (OR: 0.55). Public insurance increased the odds of skipping healthcare appointments (OR: 1.62). Need factors were associated with lower odds of facing challenges accessing healthcare (OR: 0.37), higher odds of resorting to alternative medical care (OR: 5.65), and failure to attend healthcare appointments (OR: 1.92) respectively. Factors known to enable healthcare utilization should be continuously evaluated during emergency situations. Alternative routes of health provision, along with proper health education, should be accessible to all socioeconomic groups.
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The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.