Impact of COVID-19 on health service utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in health systems of many countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite comparatively low rates of COVID-19 admissions and deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, the pandemic still had a significant impact by disrupting health service utilisation (HSU). The aim of this scoping review is to synthesise the available evidence on HSU in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially focusing on (1) changes in HSU compared with the prepandemic period, (2) changes in HSU among particular patient groups studied and (3) identifying factors determining changes in HSU as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method and analysis

The scoping review will be guided by the methodological framework for conducting scoping

SUBMITTER: Tannor EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10533669 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature