Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?

Abstract Background Ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for individuals with disabilities poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems. This research aimed to explore the factors affecting medical visits among this population. Method This cross-sectional study in Iran involved d...

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Main Authors: Fardin Moradi, Badriyeh Karami, Moslem Soofi, Behzad karamimatin, Faramarz Jalili, Shahram Akbari, Shahin Soltani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12069-7
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author Fardin Moradi
Badriyeh Karami
Moslem Soofi
Behzad karamimatin
Faramarz Jalili
Shahram Akbari
Shahin Soltani
author_facet Fardin Moradi
Badriyeh Karami
Moslem Soofi
Behzad karamimatin
Faramarz Jalili
Shahram Akbari
Shahin Soltani
author_sort Fardin Moradi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for individuals with disabilities poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems. This research aimed to explore the factors affecting medical visits among this population. Method This cross-sectional study in Iran involved data from 766 adults with disabilities aged 18 and older. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios for medical visits. Results The majority of participants were male (64.36%) and single (54.02%). In the adjusted model, participants with severe disabilities (OR: 1.901, p = 0.025) were more likely to utilize medical visits compared to those with less severe disabilities. Conversely, individuals in the second (OR: 0.420, p = 0.017), fourth (OR: 0.360, p = 0.004), and fifth (OR: 0.319, p = 0.001) wealth quintiles demonstrated a significantly lower likelihood of accessing medical visits in comparison to the reference group. Conclusions This study reveals critical disparities in healthcare access for individuals with disabilities in Iran. While individuals with severe disabilities demonstrate a higher likelihood of utilizing medical services, those in lower wealth quintiles face significant barriers to accessing care. These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance healthcare equity, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder medical visits for this vulnerable population.
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issn 1472-6963
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spelling doaj-art-06b56ecc7f464b06b06c420342ac7d902024-12-29T12:14:26ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-12-0124111010.1186/s12913-024-12069-7Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?Fardin Moradi0Badriyeh Karami1Moslem Soofi2Behzad karamimatin3Faramarz Jalili4Shahram Akbari5Shahin Soltani6Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesBehavioral Disease Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesSocial Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesSchool of Health Administration, Dalhousie UniversityResearch Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for individuals with disabilities poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems. This research aimed to explore the factors affecting medical visits among this population. Method This cross-sectional study in Iran involved data from 766 adults with disabilities aged 18 and older. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios for medical visits. Results The majority of participants were male (64.36%) and single (54.02%). In the adjusted model, participants with severe disabilities (OR: 1.901, p = 0.025) were more likely to utilize medical visits compared to those with less severe disabilities. Conversely, individuals in the second (OR: 0.420, p = 0.017), fourth (OR: 0.360, p = 0.004), and fifth (OR: 0.319, p = 0.001) wealth quintiles demonstrated a significantly lower likelihood of accessing medical visits in comparison to the reference group. Conclusions This study reveals critical disparities in healthcare access for individuals with disabilities in Iran. While individuals with severe disabilities demonstrate a higher likelihood of utilizing medical services, those in lower wealth quintiles face significant barriers to accessing care. These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance healthcare equity, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder medical visits for this vulnerable population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12069-7DisabilityHealthcare accessHealth inequalityMedical visitIran
spellingShingle Fardin Moradi
Badriyeh Karami
Moslem Soofi
Behzad karamimatin
Faramarz Jalili
Shahram Akbari
Shahin Soltani
Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?
BMC Health Services Research
Disability
Healthcare access
Health inequality
Medical visit
Iran
title Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?
title_full Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?
title_fullStr Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?
title_full_unstemmed Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?
title_short Healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in Iran: what predictors are associated with medical visits?
title_sort healthcare utilization among people with disabilities in iran what predictors are associated with medical visits
topic Disability
Healthcare access
Health inequality
Medical visit
Iran
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12069-7
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