Help Seeking Behaviors During COVID 19 Pandemic in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background: With rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), due to high transmission, long incubation, rapid spread and lack of definitive treatment of disease, extensive efforts were simultaneously made to identify the transmission chain and ways to control the disease.Aim: This study aimed to accurately identify help seeking behaviors during Covid-19 pandemic.Method: This qualitative study was performed based on explanatory model of Kleinman’s theory and through semi-structured interviews with 15 individuals who were confirmed as COVID-19 cases in Tehran. Interviews were conducted by telephone, digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed via directional content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman. Help seeking behaviors in different levels were extracted by purposive sampling approach.Results: Three main categories were extracted including popular, professional and folk sectors in help seeking behaviors. In popular sector, four levels were extracted consisting of individual, familial, social and community. In individual level, phone consultation and self-medication were two main subcategories. In familial level, conflict of expectation and the key role of wife in Covid-19 management were expressed. In social level, three subcategories included donors / charity, media and social media. Community level had one subcategory named ethical commitment. In professional sector, three subcategories were extracted including training, medical insurance and emergency services. In folk sector, the majority of participants believed that Covid-19 is God's punishment for people's sins.Implications for Practice: Exploring help-seeking behaviors at different levels can help the national health system to better control COVID-19 pandemic and provide preventive services.