UNFPA-OPS Policy Note Series No. 10: Health Care Utilization Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Policy Brief

This policy brief examines the patterns of health care utilization among Filipino children during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights findings from the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child (LCSFC) on household decision making regarding health care, before and during the pandemic, especially as it pertains to households with children. The LCSFC sample represents Filipino households with children who were age 10 in 2016.  

These households have the added burden of forming capabilities to determine life trajectories of these children. Obtaining information on health care seeking behavior has implications on the children’s welfare and presents handles for policy action which are enumerated in this brief.