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“We Live Our Life Normal”: A Qualitative Analysis of Nigerian Women’s Health-Seeking Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Mary Ndu

    (Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Gail Teachman

    (Faculty of Health Science, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Janet Martin

    (Departments of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Elysee Nouvet

    (School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Science, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

Abstract

Background: This study examined where women sought healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and their reasons for doing so. We aim to understand further how women accessed care during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future preparedness and response efforts. This knowledge gained from this study can inform strategies to address existing gaps in access and ensure that women’s health needs are adequately considered during emergencies. Methods: This study used an interpretive phenomenological-analysis approach to analyze data on women’s experiences with healthcare in Nigeria as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 women aged 15 to 49 between August and November 2022 and were supplemented with three focus-group discussions. Results: Following our analysis, three superordinate themes emerged: (i) barriers to seeking timely and appropriate healthcare care, (ii) the influence of diverse health practices and beliefs on health-seeking behavior, and (iii) gendered notions of responsibility and of coping with financial challenges. Conclusions: This paper examined women’s decision to seek or not seek care, the type of care they received, and where they went for care. Women felt that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their decision to seek or not seek care.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary Ndu & Gail Teachman & Janet Martin & Elysee Nouvet, 2024. "“We Live Our Life Normal”: A Qualitative Analysis of Nigerian Women’s Health-Seeking Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:265-:d:1345338
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Onur Akdaş & Magdalena Cismaru, 2022. "Promoting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: the transtheoretical model of change and social marketing approach," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 19(3), pages 447-474, September.
    2. Evelyn Aboagye Addae, 2021. "COVID‐19 pandemic and adolescent health and well‐being in sub‐Saharan Africa: Who cares?," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(1), pages 219-222, January.
    3. Huma Fatima & Tosin Philip Oyetunji & Sudha Mishra & Krittika Sinha & Olorunyomi Felix Olorunsogbon & Oluwayemi Samson Akande & Srinivasan & Sujita Kumar Kar, 2022. "Religious coping in the time of COVID-19 Pandemic in India and Nigeria: Finding of a cross-national community survey," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(2), pages 309-315, March.
    4. Eva Gerbier & Guillaume Favre & Fatima Tauqeer & Ursula Winterfeld & Milos Stojanov & Alison Oliver & Anneke Passier & Hedvig Nordeng & Léo Pomar & David Baud & Alice Panchaud & Carla Meyer-Massetti &, 2022. "Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Postpartum Women during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A European Multinational Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
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