Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted many aspects of healthcare, particularly pediatric visits to primary healthcare (PHC). Difficulties associated with PHC in this delicate age group can result in substantial complications. Objective: This study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric primary care delivery by examining patient characteristics, the number and types of visits, and their relationships both before and after the pandemic. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study (pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19) utilized register-based data of children aged ≤14 years old, including both Saudi and non-Saudi females and males. Data collection spanned from 2016 to 2021. Sampling was conducted using a stratified random sampling method based on age groups, followed by a simple random sampling technique with proportional allocation to each age group. Results: A total of 1,439 pediatric visits were included in this study, with males accounting for 52.2% of the sample. The most highly represented age group was toddlers, and 60% of the sample were Saudis. Vaccination was the most common reason for visits, accounting for 32% of the cases, followed by general and well-baby checkups, constituting 25.4%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in visits related to general and well-baby checkups, vaccinations, and psychiatry compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Conversely, visits for fever, dermatology, ENT (ear, nose, and throat), gastrointestinal (GI), and respiratory conditions decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Moreover, there was a statistically significant increase in referrals to the ophthalmology department in contrast to a decrease in referrals to the emergency department (ED) compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant impact on pediatric visits to PHC. Awareness of families regarding the well-baby clinic and vaccination visits reflects a positive attitude, emphasizing the importance of this during and after the pandemic will contribute to the overall wellbeing of the pediatric population. In addition, greater effort should be made to provide mental health PHC visits to protect and support this age group in future pandemics.

Key words: Pandemic, COVID-19, Pediatric, Primary healthcare, Awareness