Unmet health care needs among pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic and its determinants in Iran: prevalence, reasons and health policy implications

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess unmet needs for health care (UNHC) and its causes during COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among pregnant women in Kurdistan province in 2020 with a sample size of 800 people who were selected by multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected by a questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to examine the relationship between independent variables including demographic variables with dependent variables of perceived need and benefiting from health services. Also, multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between independent variables and outcome variable. Statistical tests were performed using STATA software package.Results: The highest UNHC were related to dental services with 66%, rehabilitation services with 58.6% and psychological services with 43.2% and the lowest were related to hospital services with 12%, midwifery services with 15.6% and physician visit services with 39.1%. The most important reasons for UNHC were fear of getting COVID-19 and the cost of the service. The variables of age group and spouse education for physician visit services; age group for midwifery services; age group, education and employment status for dental services; age group, supplementary insurance and economic status for rehabilitation services; and age group and economic status for psychological services were significantly associated with UNHC (P<0.05).Conclusion: A significant percentage of health care needs of pregnant women were unmet, for which the fear of getting COVID-19 and financial barriers were the main reasons.