Effect of COVID-19 on treatment of paediatric febrile illnesses among registered private drug sellers in East-Central Uganda: a qualitative study

Abstract BackgroundPrivate drug sellers play a critical role in treating children with malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea which remain the leading causes of mortality in children less than five years in many low-and middle-income countries. The onset of COVID-19 led to intermittent lockdowns resulting in curtailed movement of people including for access of health services. This study qualitatively assessed the effect of COVID-19 on treatment of pediatric febrile illnesses among registered private drug sellers in East-Central Uganda.MethodsFour key informant interviews (KIIs) were held with drug inspectors and four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with registered drug sellers at the end of the second lock down period following a nationwide reduction in COVID-19 cases. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were imported into Atlas.ti 7 software for management and thematic analysis.ResultsFour major themes arose from the study. These were; Treatment practices, Logistics, Living standards and collaboration between government and private sector. Accessing drugs used for treating children with febrile illnesses was difficult because of the lock down which restricted movement of people. As such, community members were not able to work resulting in poverty. This led to procuring incomplete doses for sick children from drug sellers hence inappropriate treatment. The curtailed movement also increased the cost of procuring drugs making them unaffordable by caregivers with febrile children. This in turn led to reduced income translating into reduced standards of living for drug sellers. Noteworthy, government and the private sector need to collaborate in order to make paediatric drugs easily accessible to the private drug sellers in future pandemics. This will lead to desired pediatric health outcomes.ConclusionCOVID-19 hampered the appropriate treatment of children because the instituted lock downs caused restricted movement hence a shortage of drugs and rampant poverty among community members. The hiked cost of procuring drugs for febrile children lowered the living standards of many drug sellers. It is important that in future, synergy be created between government and private health providers in order to benefit from the economies of scale.