Fear of COVID-19 Infection: The Biggest Obstacle to People Accessing Healthcare Services

Research by the Center for Indonesia Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI) shows that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted people's access to healthcare services. 43.6% of respondents reported being worried about contracting Covid-19 when accessing healthcare services.

31.7% of respondents did not access healthcare services for fear of being deliberately diagnosed with Covid-19. A further 14.3% were concerned about facility closures or exceeding capacity.

Additionally, 14.1% of respondents worried about contracting Covid-19 outside their homes while accessing healthcare services. 12.2% were concerned about changes in healthcare facility operating hours.

9.5% of respondents were worried about disruptions or poor service provision due to Covid-19. Other reasons included social restrictions (8.7%), the suspension of specialized healthcare providers due to Covid-19 (8.5%), and receiving recommendations to avoid facility visits (4.2%).

This survey involved 748 respondents representing 187 villages/sub-districts in 59 cities/regencies across 15 provinces. Conducted between June and August 2021, the survey utilized telephone interviews with community leaders or representatives, including village heads/sub-district heads, religious/traditional leaders, representatives of civil organizations, and health workers.