Barriers and facilitators influencing access to and utilization of primary healthcare services in Kurdistan-region, Iraq: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The primary healthcare (PHC) idea is intended to become the first line of interaction for members of the public with care needs, as well as a system that views health as a complete state of being rather than only a state of wellbeing. This study aimed to examine the barriers and facilitators influencing the access and utilization of PHC services in Erbil governorate, Kurdistan-region, Iraq, through assessing populations’ practice, and satisfaction. Also, explore the relationship between the socioeconomic, demographic, and cultural characteristics of the study population and utilization of PHC services. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire-based survey was used for data collection. Totally, 2400 individuals have been selected in 6 different districts and the centre of Erbil through the multi-cluster random sampling method. The χ2 test was used for categorical variables, and a one-way ANOVA was used for numerical variables. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The main reason for utilizing PHC centres was preventive purpose (68.1%), then poverty was the second reason (11.33%), and the participants reported that during the presence of urgent cases when they cannot use other health facilities, they use PHC centres (9%). In terms of barriers for utilizing and visiting PHC centres, the participated people stated that most of them, due to inadequate services, did not use and visit PHC centres (83.21%); the second reason was the presence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, which makes them visit private clinics (7.79%) and generally, (31.4%) of the participants were satisfied with the health services nearby. Conclusion: In conclusion, it appears that many people visit PHC facilities, but most of them only do so as a preventative measure, and very few go there to obtain basic medical treatment. Most patients go to private clinics and/or hospitals since those facilities have better access to specialists, better quality and quantity of medications, and laboratory testing. Additionally, combining and strengthening service quality aspects that prioritize a patient-centred environment and an effective service delivery system is a key strategy for the health sector to increase patient satisfaction.