ArticlePloS one2021
Health knowledge and care seeking behaviour in resource-limited settings amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Ghana.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers.
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43 citing papers in PubMed, 91 citations in OpenAlex.
- The dynamics of family planning and abortion services during COVID-19: perspectives from healthcare providers and clients in Burkina Faso.Reproductive health · 2026Article
- Healthcare access difficulty due to fear of COVID-19 infection among women of reproductive age: multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis.African health sciences · 2026Article
- Community-engaged health outreach program contributes to health service, research, and education in rural areas.Frontiers in health services · 2026Article
- One year on - the long-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions on the health-seeking behaviour, financial security and mental health of TB survivors.BMC public health · 2025Observational
- Epidemiology of Parvovirus B19 in Türkiye: A Descriptive Analysis of National Surveillance Data (2020-2024).Balkan medical journal · 2025Article
- The NOSTRA model: Coherent estimation of infection sources in the case of possible nosocomial transmission.PLoS computational biology · 2025Article
- Impact of COVID-19 on the management of hypertension: a perspective on disease severity, service use patterns and expenditures from Ghana's health insurance claims data.Journal of human hypertension · 2025Article
- Improving healthcare efficiency through long-term care insurance (LTCI): a super-SBM and DID analysis of 291 Chinese cities.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Impact of multiple consultations and switching in treatment-seeking in tuberculosis: Mathematical modelling and optimal control.PloS one · 2025Article
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- Female transactional sex workers' experiences and health-seeking behaviour in low-middle income countries: a scoping review.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Factors Associated with Health-Seeking Behavior in Indonesia: Evidence from the Indonesian Family Life Survey 2014.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Article
- Economic and social determinants of health care utilization during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic among adults in Ghana: a population-based cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2024Article
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- A qualitative study examining the health system's response to COVID-19 in Sierra Leone.PloS one · 2024Article
- Validity evaluation of the Health Information Preferences Questionnaire among college students.Frontiers in public health · 2024Review
- Broken bones and apple brandy: resilience and sensemaking of general practitioners and their at-risk patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland.Anthropology & medicine · 2023Article
- Management of onchocerciasis among adolescents in nkwanta north district of Ghana: Qualitative study of adolescents' perception, community and health system support.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Article
- COVID-19 second wave and clinical characteristics of cases in Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional survey of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, March-June 2021.Epidemiology and infection · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe emergence of a pandemic presents challenges and opportunities for healthcare, health promotion interventions, and overall improvement in healthcare seeking behaviour. This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on health knowledge, lifestyle, and healthcare seeking behaviour among residents of a resource-limited setting in Ghana.
methodsThis qualitative study adopted an exploratory design to collect data from 20 adult residents in the Cape Coast Metropolis using face-to-face in-depth interviews. Data collected were analysed thematically and statements from participants presented verbatim to illustrate the themes realised.
resultsHealth knowledge has improved due to COVID-19 in terms of access to health information and increased understanding of health issues. There were reductions in risky health-related lifestyles (alcohol intake, sharing of personal items, and consumption of junk foods) while improvements were observed in healthy lifestyles such as regular physical exercise and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. COVID-19 also positively impacted health seeking behaviour through increased health consciousness and regular check-ups. However, reduced healthcare utilization was prevalent.
conclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has presented a positive cue to action and helped improved health knowledge, lifestyle, and care seeking behaviour although existing health system constrains and low economic status reduced healthcare utilization. To improve health systems, health-related lifestyles and healthcare seeking behaviour as well as overall health outcomes even after the pandemic wades off, COVID-19 associated conscious and unconscious reforms should be systematically harnessed.
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