Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Naeimeh Poortaheri
- . Khalil Alimohammadzadeh 1
- . Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini 2
- . Ali Maher 3
- . Mohammadkarim Bahadori 4
1 Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Management, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran/ Health Economics Policy Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Health Services Management, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy, School of Management and Medical Education, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Full Professor, Health Management Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Informal settlements are considered as one of the social problems in societies. As
the residents do not have adequate access to basic services, including health services, their health
is at risk. This study was conducted to evaluate the access to health services and determine the
health needs of informal settlements in Bam city.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was carried out in the spring of 2020 in
Bam. The sample size was 400 residents of informal settlements in Bam, and the multi‑stage random
cluster sampling was used. A researcher‑made questionnaire was used to collect the required
data. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed using the content validity, and its reliability
was 85% by Cronbach’s alpha. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 23 software and
descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation, and percentage) as well as analytical
statistics (Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests).
RESULTS: More than 50% of the individuals had good access to general practitioners and health
centers. However, over 50% had poor access to dental, para‑clinical, specialist, and hospital services.
Furthermore, 49.3% of the people assessed their health status as poor in the previous year. A total
of 46 items in the areas of communicable and non‑communicable diseases, women’s health, mental
and social health and addiction, environmental health, etc., were identified as the most important
health needs of the informal settlement residents.
CONCLUSION: Informal settlements are facing various health problems including environmental
health, mental and social health, and addiction, meeting which requires collaboration of all
stakeholders as well as provision of a comprehensive program and appropriate service packages.
Keywords
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