Pörtner Pens New Research on the Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown on Healthcare Inaccessibility and Unaffordability in Uganda
Posted: 8/30/2023 (CSDE Research)
CSDE External Affiliate Claus Pörtner, along with co-authors, has published new research on the “Impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on healthcare inaccessibility and unaffordability in Uganda” in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Several studies have reported adverse consequences of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the utilization of healthcare services across Africa. However, little is known about the channels through which lockdowns impacted healthcare utilization. This study focuses on unaffordability as a reason for not utilizing healthcare services. Using nationally representative longitudinal household data and a household fixed-effects model, he finds that the lockdown in Uganda was associated with an 8.4% higher likelihood of respondents being unable to access healthcare when treatment was needed relative to the non-lockdown periods. Excellent work, Dr. Pörtner!