Discontinuation of health interventions among Brazilian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: REMOBILIZE Study

Coelho de Amorim, Juleimar Soares, Ornellas, Giulianna, Lloyd-Sherlock, Peter, Sirineu Pereira, Daniele, da Silva, Alexandre, Duim, Etienne, Astolphi Lima, Camila and Rodrigues Perracini, Monica (2022) Discontinuation of health interventions among Brazilian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: REMOBILIZE Study. International Journal of Health Services, 52 (3). pp. 330-340. ISSN 0020-7314

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze changes in access to health interventions during the pandemic among Brazilian older adults and to investigate the factors associated with social and health inequalities. We conducted an online survey with Brazilian adults aged 60 + years between May and June 2020. A multidimensional questionnaire was used to investigate access to health interventions during the pandemic and associated factors. Of 1482 participants, 56.5% reported health care before the pandemic, and 36.4% discontinued it during the pandemic. The discontinuation rate was 64.4% (95% CI 61.1-67.6). Participants with higher educational level (nine or more years of education: OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.17-0.70) and higher income (eight or more times the minimum wage: OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.36-0.81) were associated with less probability of discontinuation. Presenting multimorbidity (OR: 1.42; 95% CI 1.06-1.90) and polypharmacy (OR: 0.61; 95% CI 0.46-0.81) were associated with discontinuity in health interventions. Our study showed that structural health inequities in access to health care shaped the rates of discontinuation in health care interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategic actions should be set up to actively monitor socially vulnerable older adults and strengthen community-based services to mitigate the discontinuation of health care interventions.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Life Course, Migration and Wellbeing Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Health and Disease
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2022 10:32
Last Modified:	19 May 2023 10:34
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/88632
DOI:	10.1177/00207314221092354

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