Unveiling Womens Experiences Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: An Interpretive phenomenological analysis. (preprint)

BackgroundThe past three years have seen an increasing gap in health inequalities in Nigerias health systems, with many women having trouble accessing health care due to persistent social determinants of health. Studies indicate that the amplified impact of the pandemic is due to the lack of contextual focus on response plans. This study used an interpretive phenomenological analysis to analyze womens experiences with healthcare as the pandemic progressed in Nigeria. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted between August to November 2022. It was supplemented with three focus group discussions with mothers. The mothers were purposively recruited for their experiences with health care during the pandemic. The analysis of the interviews followed the interpretive phenomenological analysis approach. ResultsTwenty-four women aged 15 to 49 years with children between 0 and 5 years participated in this study. These women reported mixed experiences during the pandemic, with many attributing positive health behaviours to the pandemic. Following analysis, four themes emerged: i) Influence of diversity of Healthcare Practices and Beliefs on health-seeking behaviour; ii) Unpacking Systemic Barriers to Seeking Timely and Appropriate Health Care Services; iii) Womens fear of contracting COVID-19; iv) Socioeconomic Burden for Holistic Health Care Delivery. ConclusionHealth planners must examine contextual factors that drive health usage, especially potentially changing gender dynamics ahead of the next pandemic. This paper examined womens decision to seek or not seek care, the type of care they received, and where they went for care. Women felt that the pandemic affected their decision to seek or not seek care. However, while they learned new behaviours that are now integrated into their daily lives, they also indicate that some behaviours are habitual and have persisted through the pandemic.

Was priority setting included in the Canadian COVID-19 pandemic planning and preparedness? A comparative analysis of COVID-19 pandemic plans from Eight provinces and Three territories

Background Variation in priorities during pandemic planning among the federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions are thought to have impacted Canada's ability to effectively control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and protect the most vulnerable. The potential influence of diverse and divergent political, cultural, and behavioural factors, regarding inclusion of priority setting (PS) in pandemic preparedness planning across the country is not well understood. This study aimed to examine how the Canadian federal, provincial and territorial COVID-19 pandemic preparedness planning documents integrated PS. Methods A documentary analysis of the federal, eight provincial, three territorial COVID-19 preparedness and response plans. We assessed the degree to which the documented PS processes fulfilled established quality requirements of effective PS using the Kapiriri & Martin framework. Results While the federal plan included most of the parameters of effective PS, the provinces and territories reflected few. The lack of obligation for the provinces and territories to emulate the federal plan is one of the possible reasons for the varying inclusion of these parameters. The parameters included did not vary systematically with the jurisdiction's context. Conclusion Provinces could consider using the framework of the federal plan and the WHO guidelines to guide future pandemic planning. Regular evaluation of the instituted PS would provide a mechanism through which lessons can be harnessed and improvement strategies developed. Future studies should describe and evaluate what PS mechanisms were implemented.