Impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable disease management services at selected government health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: The global pandemic of COVID-19 forced the world to divert resources and asked the public to shelter-in-place, so the diagnosis surveillance system and management of non-communicable diseases has become more challenging. OBJECTIVE: To identify the impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases management services at government health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: Health facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from August to September, 2020. A total of 30 health centers were included in this study. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess association between the outcome and independent variables RESULTS: The majority, 24 (80%), of the study participants perceived that the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the non-communicable disease management services. There was a statistically significant association between a decrease in outpatient volume at non communicable disease (NCD) management services (25 (83.3%), P-value: 0.006), closure of population level screening programs of NCDs (22 (73.3%), P-value: 0.007), and closure of disease specific NCD clinics and the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic (23 (76.7%), P-value: 0.013). CONCLUSION: The most critical health-care services for non-communicable diseases management were severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, during public health emergencies, policymakers should ensure continuation of critical clinical services and inform the public about proper service utilization.