Analysis of the Challenges to Healthcare Access among the Economically Disadvantaged Population during the Movement Control Order for COVID-19 Pandemic in Selangor - Malaysia
Sohayla M. Attalla *
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia and Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, 25 Elgomhouria Street, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt.
Hazian Bt Hamzah
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Win Win May
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Chew Zhuo Nan
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Fara Nurul Izwarina Bt Side Mohamed
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Manpreet Kaur A/P Amarjit Singh
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Mariyam Shaimau Saleem
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Muvileswari Santhraseharan
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Nada Nadiah Bt Muhammad
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Pavitra A/P Chinapah
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Ramya A/P Thiyakarajan
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Shaileash A/L Palanisamy
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
Vicnes Kumar Sivarajah
International Medical School (IMS), Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Shah Alam, 40400, Malaysia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background and Aim: The Healthcare systems all over the world were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the burden is affecting the economically disadvantaged population (B40). This study aims to determine the challenges to healthcare access among B40 populations during the movement control order (MCO) for COVID-19 pandemic in Selangor, Malaysia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done using a remote data collection method by distribution of questionnaires to 381 participants among the B40 populations in Selangor.
Results: The response rate was 80%. The participants agreed that it was very easy (16.3%), easy (29.1%) and moderate (28.3%) to access healthcare services during the pandemic. The challenges faced by the participants in accessing the healthcare service include transportation (35.4%), distance to obtain health care service (19.4%), delay in getting the service (38.1%), E-health service (18.6%), financial support for travel (18.6%) and financial support for healthcare service (35.7%). Participants who reduced spending on essential needs during the pandemic were 45.9%. More than half of the participants (61.4%) do not have a health financial protection plan as the government is subsidizing almost 98% of the healthcare cost. During the MCO period, 50.9% of the participants utilized the outpatient services which comprises 70.1% of public facilities and 29.9% of private facilities. In contrast, only 13.9% of participants utilized inpatient services from which public and private facilities were 75.5% and 24.5% respectively. The result shows the response of the study participants according to the satisfactory/dissatisfactory level regarding the quality of service being effective (45.8%/ 2.5%), safe (48.3%/ 2.0%), people centered (51.7%/ 2.0%), timely (37.4%/ 13.8%), equitable (47.8%/ 2.0%) and integrated (40.4%/ 3.0%).
Conclusion: It is concluded that healthcare services were accessible among the B40 population during the COVID-19 in Selangor and the biggest challenge was the delay in medical services.
Keywords: Urban poor, COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare access, movement control order, disadvantaged population