Recovering from COVID lockdowns: Routine public sector PHC services in South Africa, 2019 - 2021
S. Afr. med. j. (Online)
;
113(1): 17-23, 2023. figures, tables
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1412717
ABSTRACT
Background. In a previous article on the impact of COVID-19, the authors compared access to routine health services between 2019 and 2020. While differential by province, a number of services provided, as reflected in the District Health Information System (DHIS), were significantly affected by the pandemic. In this article we explore the extent to which the third and fourth waves affected routine services. Objectives. To assess the extent to which waves 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 pandemic affected routine health services in South Africa, and whether there was any recovery in 2021.Methods. Data routinely collected via the DHIS in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were analysed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and extent of recovery. Results. While there was recovery in some indicators, such as number of children immunised and HIV tests, in many other areas, including primary healthcare visits, the 2019 numbers have yet to be reached suggesting a slow recovery and continuing impact of the pandemic. Conclusions. TheCOVID-19 pandemic continued to affect routine health services in 2021 in a number of areas. There are signs of recovery to 2019 levels in some of the health indicators. However, the impact indicators of maternal and neonatal mortality continued to worsen in 2021, and if interventions are not urgently implemented, the country is unlikely to meet the Sustainable Development Goals targets
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Communicable Disease Control
/
COVID-19
/
Health Services Accessibility
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. med. j. (Online)
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Clinton Health Access Initiative/ZA
/
Division of Public Health and Health Systems, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University/ZA
/
National Department of Health/ZA
/
School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand/ZA
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