Paper details
| Paper authors | Muhammad Riaz Hossain, Ateeb Ahmad Parray, Rafia Sultana, Bachera Aktar, Sabina Faiz Rashid |
| In panel on | Health Systems Resilience in response to mass displacement, conflict, and disasters |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted concerns regarding healthcare availability, accessibility, and affordability in complex humanitarian circumstances with different populations, such as Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. A study was undertaken in ten Rohingya camps and four wards of neighboring host communities in Cox's Bazar to explore how the most vulnerable groups (MVGs) sought treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method
From November 2020 to March 2021, pregnant and lactating mothers, adolescent boys and girls, disabled people, elderly people, and single female-household heads were interviewed in-depth (24 per community). This study used Andersen's healthcare-seeking behavioral model to analyze data.
Findings
The participants' healthcare-seeking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cox's Bazar was influenced by socioeconomic and demographic factors, gender, cultural and social norms, health beliefs, and institutional factors. Lack of household assistance, fewer healthcare providers at health facilities, and community movement restrictions prevented many Rohingya and host community members from seeking healthcare. Most female participants from both communities needed permission and money from their male family members to visit healthcare services, limiting access. Economic uncertainty also affected host communities' healthcare costs.
Implication
These findings may influence humanitarian pandemic preparedness and health system resilience policies and strategies.
