Self-reported unmet health needs of adults with disabilities in Kurdistan, Iran
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare
ISSN: 2056-4902
Article publication date: 6 April 2022
Issue publication date: 16 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Health is one of the most basic human rights. This study aims to examine the pattern of unmet health services needs and barriers to use health services among people with disabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study was conducted among people with disabilities in Sanandaj, the capital of a less economically developed province in western Iran in 2020. In total, 548 samples were selected using random sampling, and data were collected using a questionnaire. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to examine the relationship between independent variables including demographic variables and dependent variables. Statistical tests were performed using STATA software package.
Findings
About 64% and 23% of participants needed outpatient and inpatient services, respectively. The gap between the perceived need and using health services for outpatient and inpatient services was reported to be 55% and 30%, respectively. The main reasons for not seeking the required health care were “insufficient coverage of costs by insurance” and “lack of physical access.” Having supplementary insurance and better economic status were significantly correlated with using outpatient care and having supplementary insurance and type of disability had a significant relationship with using inpatient care.
Originality/value
There was a big gap between the perceived need, seeking for and receiving health services in people with disabilities. Designing and implementing appropriate interventions to reduce barriers on the way of transforming, the need for health services into demand in the population of people with disabilities should be on the agenda of policymakers and relevant managers in the country.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank those who participated in this study.
Competing interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Availability of data and materials: The data sets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences IR.MUK.REC.1398.130.
Citation
Azadnia, A., Mohamadi Bolbanabad, A., Safari, H., Afkhamzadeh, A., Piroozi, B., Ghamari, D., Khosravi, S., Banafshi, Z. and Ebrahimi, R. (2023), "Self-reported unmet health needs of adults with disabilities in Kurdistan, Iran", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 389-401. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-08-2021-0152
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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