| Abstract |
During the Covid 19 pandemic crisis and the imposition of restrictive measures against the spread of the virus, the use of pediatric services in health facilities in many countries of the world was drastically reduced, both in PHC structures and in hospitals. The purpose of this study is to examine the attendance of the pediatric population (children and adolescents up to 16 years) in the area of responsibility of TO.M.Y. Maleviziou during the pandemic crisis COVID 19 and the investigation of the factors that influenced it. Methodology: The data of the present study were extracted from the Register of Visits of the Family Pediatrician and the Health Worker of the Structure, in printed and electronic form. IBM SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis of the data. The participants in the study were children and adolescents up to 16 years old who live in the Municipality of Malevizi, are registered by their parents in the Family Pediatrician of To.M.Y. Maleviziou and, have made use of the pediatric health services of the unit from March to December 2019 (period BEFORE the implementation of the restrictive measures due to Covid 19) and from March to December 2020 (period AFTER the implementation of the measures). Results: Visits to the Family Pediatrician during the 10 months of the pandemic were significantly reduced. (reduction rate 28%). More specifically, during the pandemic, the visits in the afternoon shifts decreased (18.0% vs. 14.0% p = 0.013), the visits for the age group 4-11 (38.8% vs. 45.4% p = <0.001) as well as vaccinations (28.7% vs. 51.8% p = <0.001). Conclusions: According to the international literature, this decrease may be due to traffic restrictions, school closures and, the stay of children
Public Health-Primary Health Care-Health Services
School of Medicine–University of Crete
4
and adolescents at home, as well as the fear of parents to visit health facilities, with impending possible consequences on the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, the investigation of which could be the subject of further research. The findings of the present study could be used in new cases of α health crisis, by implementing preventive measures, to address the reduced use of pediatric medical services.
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H χρήση των παιδιατρικών υπηρεσιών υγείας πριν και κατά τη διάρκεια της πανδημίας Covid 19. : Το παράδειγμα μιας Τοπικής Μονάδας ΠΦΥ (Το.Μ.Υ.) στην Κρήτη
