Abstract:

Background: Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is raising serious concerns about effective pandemic response and preparedness in a country like Nigeria with fragile health systems and alarming poverty indices. Aim: The study aimed to reveal the implication of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare-seeking behaviour of households experiencing (extreme) poverty using the conflict theory lenses Methods: A retrospective and comparative study using secondary data from the major tertiary healthcare centre -purposively selected which serves Ido-Ekiti; a town in southwestern Nigeria and its environs were utilized in this study; it comprises data before and during the pandemic. Results: There was a general decline across the clinics (90%) with some clinics having up to 33% -55% reductions in visits during COVID-19. There was a total 13% drop across the board from January to December of 2020 as compared with 2019. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study suggests a better enlightenment campaign and more investment in the healthcare sector, especially in the rural areas.