Impact of COVID Pandemic on the Use of Services in a Peripheral Health Center in Southern Benin

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has had negative impacts on health systems of most countries. Methods: we conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study in a peripheral health center in southern Benin. The morbidity indicators and the functioning of the services were collected and analyzed 10 months before COVID and 10 months during COVID by a linear regression model. Results: The onset of the COVID pandemic led to a non-significant drop in the number of consultations among children aged 12 to 35 months [-8,100; 0.297], and borderline negative effects on malaria [-44.20; 0.098], and significant for acute respiratory infections [-34.200; 0.039] and diarrheal diseases [-4.100; 0.036]. Conclusion: Even in a rural outlying health center, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the health system. This repercussion led to a drop in consultations on morbidity indicators such as malaria, acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. This reflects both the fear of the populations to come to the health center in during pandemic period but also the reduction in the functioning of the center due to the outbreak. Strengthening measures are needed to ensure quality care for the population, Such as the increase in the number of health care workers, the increase in the security and protection arrangements for health workers and users of health centers.