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Socio-Demographic Correlates of Barriers to Access Healthcare Services among Children in Post-Communist Albania

Author

Listed:
  • Iris Mone

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Rr. “Dibres”, No. 371, 8185 Tirana, Albania)

  • Suela Vasil

    (“Schools for Health”, a Project of the Swiss Development and Cooperation (SDC) Agency, Rr. “Mihal Popi”, 8185 Tirana, Albania
    Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Bulevardi Zogu I, 1001 Tirana, Albania)

  • Albano Alia

    (“Schools for Health”, a Project of the Swiss Development and Cooperation (SDC) Agency, Rr. “Mihal Popi”, 8185 Tirana, Albania)

  • Sonela Xinxo

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Rr. “Dibres”, No. 371, 8185 Tirana, Albania
    “Schools for Health”, a Project of the Swiss Development and Cooperation (SDC) Agency, Rr. “Mihal Popi”, 8185 Tirana, Albania)

  • Kliton Muça

    (“Schools for Health”, a Project of the Swiss Development and Cooperation (SDC) Agency, Rr. “Mihal Popi”, 8185 Tirana, Albania)

  • Genc Burazeri

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Rr. “Dibres”, No. 371, 8185 Tirana, Albania
    “Schools for Health”, a Project of the Swiss Development and Cooperation (SDC) Agency, Rr. “Mihal Popi”, 8185 Tirana, Albania
    Department of International Health, CAPHRI (Care and Public Health Research Institute), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Access to healthcare services is an essential component of promoting public health and sustainable development. Our aim was to assess socio-demographic correlates of barriers to accessing healthcare services among children in Albania, a post-communist country in Europe. An online survey was conducted in September 2022, including a nationwide representative sample of 7831 school children (≈54% girls) ranging from grades six to nine from all regions of Albania. A structured and anonymous questionnaire was administered to all children inquiring about a range of potential barriers to accessing healthcare services. Overall, about 42% of the children reported that they had barriers to accessing healthcare services. There were no gender differences, but there were significant ethnic differences (51% among Roma/Egyptian children vs. 42% among the general sample of the children); urban/rural differences (46% rural vs. 39% urban); and socio-economic differences (52% among children with a lower maternal education vs. 31% among children with a higher maternal education; 66% among children from poor families vs. 35% among children with a higher family income). In transitional Albania, children residing in rural areas, children from Roma and/or Egyptian communities, and especially those pertinent to low socio-economic families report considerably more barriers to accessing healthcare services, which is a cause of concern.

Suggested Citation

  • Iris Mone & Suela Vasil & Albano Alia & Sonela Xinxo & Kliton Muça & Genc Burazeri, 2023. "Socio-Demographic Correlates of Barriers to Access Healthcare Services among Children in Post-Communist Albania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8455-:d:1153457
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    References listed on IDEAS

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