"Implementation of targeted interventions can positively influence vaccination uptake." Understanding the determinants of insufficient vaccine uptake, both on the demand side (e.g., knowledge, perception, vaccine acceptance, socioeconomic factors) and on the supply side (e.g., resources, cold chain) is crucial to enable optimal vaccination impact.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and response on the utilisation of health services in public facilities during the first wave in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Abstract
Introduction Health service use among the public can decline during outbreaks and had been predicted among low and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) started implementing public health measures across Kinshasa, including strict lockdown measures in the Gombe health zone.
Methods Using monthly time series data from the DRC Health Management Information System (January 2018 to December 2020) and interrupted time series with mixed effects segmented Poisson regression models, we evaluated the impact of the pandemic on the use of essential health services (outpatient visits, maternal health, vaccinations, visits for common infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases) during the first wave of the p