Table 4 Self-reported coping mechanisms and association with reported barriers to accessing health-care during the COVID-19 lockdown
Reported coping mechanisms | Overall, N = 220 | Among patients reporting no barrier to accessing health care, N = 124 | Among patients reporting at least 1 barrier to accessing health care, N = 96 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
Adverse coping mechanisms: | ||||
 Stopped treatment, skipped, or delayed treatment | 37 (16.8) | 14 (11.3) | 23 (24.0) | 0.018 |
Positive coping mechanisms | ||||
 Went on foot or used other alternative forms of transport to go to the health facility | 21 (9.6) | 7 (5.7) | 14 (14.6) | 0.036 |
 Contacted usual clinician via phone for guidance/to reschedule appointment | 15 (6.8) | 2 (1.6) | 13 (13.5) | 0.001 |
 Delegated son/daughter/neighbour clinician to pick up medication for me | 6 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (6.3) | 0.006 |
 Went to a community health worker (CHW) | 2 (0.9) | 2 (1.6) | 0 (0.0) | 0.506 |
 Bought medication from a nearest pharmacy | 1 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.0) | 0.436 |
Used exclusively positive coping mechanisms | 40 (18.2) | 11 (8.9) | 29 (30.2) | < 0.001 |