Healthcare preferences in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: COVID-19 started with the diagnosis of a patient with pneumonia of unknown origin (PUO) at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019. Usually, those infected are treated with preventive and orthodox measures based on WHO recommendations; but is it possible that some persons may prefer additional treatment modalities based on their faith/spirituality and home remedies in addition to those?

This study assessed the individual’s healthcare preferences in the control of COVID-19.

Methodology: Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on individuals’ healthcare preferences. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Categorical data and numerical data were summarized using frequencies, mean, standard deviation, and median. A chi-square test was done to determine Statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Multinomial statistics was done to determine factors associated with care preference

Results: 400 participants were recruited with an M: F of 1:1.5. Two-fifths were in the third decade of life and had tertiary education. The mean age was 29.48±10.32 years. 379(94.7%) of participants wanted to be treated by orthodox medicine if infected by COVID-19, however, 30.8% and 39.2% would in addition prefer Trado-medical agents like garlic, ginger, steam inhalation and faith (fasting, praying, going to mosque/church and paying of zakat and tithe) respectively. There were significant associations between participants’ professions (p=0.03), age group(p=0.04), education (p=<0.0001), and care preference when infected with COVID-19.

Conclusion: 3 out of 10 participants would prefer to add tradomedical agents (home remedies) and 2 out of 5 would prefer to use their faith in addition to orthodox management of COVID-19 if infected.