Access to primary healthcare during lockdown measures for COVID-19 in rural South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We evaluated whether implementation of lockdown orders in South Africa affected ambulatory clinic visitation in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN).

Design

Observational cohort SETTING: Data were analysed from 11 primary healthcare clinics in northern KZN.

Participants

A total of 46 523 individuals made 89 476 clinic visits during the observation period.

Exposure of interest

We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to estimate changes in clinic visitation with a focus on transitions from the prelockdown to the level 5, 4 and 3 lockdown periods.

Outcome measures

Daily clinic visitation at ambulatory clinics. In stratified analyses, we assessed visitation for the following subcategories: child health, perinatal care and family planning, HIV servi

SUBMITTER: Siedner MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7536636 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature