Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The ongoing war in Sudan has triggered a massive displacement crisis, leaving internally displaced people (IDP) struggling to access healthcare services. This study aimed to investigate healthcare access, utilization, and the quality of life among Sudanese IDP during the conflict...
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2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00655-3 |
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| author | Hind Elmukashfi ShamsEldin Elobied Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed Romaysa Abdelrahman Hassan Salih Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed Abdulhadi M. A. Mahgoub Abdelmoula Hashim Abdelmagid Mohamed Eman Hamid Abdallah Elamin Al-Romaysa M. Osman Khalafalla El-Haj Mohamed Al-Hadi Hamed Abd-Allah Arwa Yagoub Elmadani Ibrahim Yousuf Alnoor Younis Mohamed Arig Elias Shabo |
| author_facet | Hind Elmukashfi ShamsEldin Elobied Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed Romaysa Abdelrahman Hassan Salih Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed Abdulhadi M. A. Mahgoub Abdelmoula Hashim Abdelmagid Mohamed Eman Hamid Abdallah Elamin Al-Romaysa M. Osman Khalafalla El-Haj Mohamed Al-Hadi Hamed Abd-Allah Arwa Yagoub Elmadani Ibrahim Yousuf Alnoor Younis Mohamed Arig Elias Shabo |
| author_sort | Hind Elmukashfi ShamsEldin Elobied |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The ongoing war in Sudan has triggered a massive displacement crisis, leaving internally displaced people (IDP) struggling to access healthcare services. This study aimed to investigate healthcare access, utilization, and the quality of life among Sudanese IDP during the conflict. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out among Sudanese internally displaced people in six states. Quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire. Accessibility, utilization, and the consequences of not accessing healthcare were evaluated using an author-designed questionnaire, which was piloted prior to the study. Chi-square tests were used to analyze associations between categorical variables, while ANOVA was applied to assess differences in quality-of-life domains based on displacement duration and living conditions. Multinomial logistic regression identified predictors of healthcare affordability, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results Among 612 participants, 40.3% reported facilities being very close, 13.0% faced waits over 2 h, and 54.3% found healthcare unaffordable. Only 33.6% always had access to qualified staff, and 22.8% of IDP visited public healthcare facilities supported by non-governmental organizations. The psychological domain had the highest quality-of-life mean score at 49.7 (18.1). Worsened symptoms (44%) were a common consequence of healthcare inaccessibility, while lack of transport (37.9%) was the most common barrier. Availability of qualified staff significantly increased the likelihood of seeking care (χ² = 11.30, p = 0.022). Quality-of-life domains varied significantly by displacement duration and living situation (p < 0.011). Conclusion This study revealed significant variations in healthcare access and utilization among Sudanese IDP, with quality-of-life domains lower than those of IDP in other countries. Interventions should prioritize innovative solutions like telemedicine, targeted support for vulnerable groups, and expanding health insurance coverage to enhance access and long-term health outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb946a9e493249449e8034ceacfcb2a8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb946a9e493249449e8034ceacfcb2a82025-08-20T02:59:35ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052025-03-0119111210.1186/s13031-025-00655-3Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional studyHind Elmukashfi ShamsEldin Elobied0Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed1Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed2Romaysa Abdelrahman Hassan Salih3Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed4Abdulhadi M. A. Mahgoub5Abdelmoula Hashim Abdelmagid Mohamed6Eman Hamid Abdallah Elamin7Al-Romaysa M. Osman Khalafalla El-Haj8Mohamed Al-Hadi Hamed Abd-Allah9Arwa Yagoub Elmadani Ibrahim10Yousuf Alnoor Younis Mohamed11Arig Elias Shabo12Faculty of Medicine, Al-zaiem Al-azhari UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GadarifMedical Research GroupMedical Research GroupFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GadarifMedical Research GroupMedical Research GroupMedical Research GroupFaculty of Medicine, Al-zaiem Al-azhari UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Al-zaiem Al-azhari UniversityMedical Research GroupMedical Research GroupMedical Research GroupAbstract Background The ongoing war in Sudan has triggered a massive displacement crisis, leaving internally displaced people (IDP) struggling to access healthcare services. This study aimed to investigate healthcare access, utilization, and the quality of life among Sudanese IDP during the conflict. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out among Sudanese internally displaced people in six states. Quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire. Accessibility, utilization, and the consequences of not accessing healthcare were evaluated using an author-designed questionnaire, which was piloted prior to the study. Chi-square tests were used to analyze associations between categorical variables, while ANOVA was applied to assess differences in quality-of-life domains based on displacement duration and living conditions. Multinomial logistic regression identified predictors of healthcare affordability, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results Among 612 participants, 40.3% reported facilities being very close, 13.0% faced waits over 2 h, and 54.3% found healthcare unaffordable. Only 33.6% always had access to qualified staff, and 22.8% of IDP visited public healthcare facilities supported by non-governmental organizations. The psychological domain had the highest quality-of-life mean score at 49.7 (18.1). Worsened symptoms (44%) were a common consequence of healthcare inaccessibility, while lack of transport (37.9%) was the most common barrier. Availability of qualified staff significantly increased the likelihood of seeking care (χ² = 11.30, p = 0.022). Quality-of-life domains varied significantly by displacement duration and living situation (p < 0.011). Conclusion This study revealed significant variations in healthcare access and utilization among Sudanese IDP, with quality-of-life domains lower than those of IDP in other countries. Interventions should prioritize innovative solutions like telemedicine, targeted support for vulnerable groups, and expanding health insurance coverage to enhance access and long-term health outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00655-3AccessibilityUtilizationQuality of lifeHealthcareInternally displaced peopleSudan |
| spellingShingle | Hind Elmukashfi ShamsEldin Elobied Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed Romaysa Abdelrahman Hassan Salih Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed Abdulhadi M. A. Mahgoub Abdelmoula Hashim Abdelmagid Mohamed Eman Hamid Abdallah Elamin Al-Romaysa M. Osman Khalafalla El-Haj Mohamed Al-Hadi Hamed Abd-Allah Arwa Yagoub Elmadani Ibrahim Yousuf Alnoor Younis Mohamed Arig Elias Shabo Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional study Conflict and Health Accessibility Utilization Quality of life Healthcare Internally displaced people Sudan |
| title | Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Healthcare accessibility, utilization, and quality of life among internally displaced people during the Sudan war: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | healthcare accessibility utilization and quality of life among internally displaced people during the sudan war a cross sectional study |
| topic | Accessibility Utilization Quality of life Healthcare Internally displaced people Sudan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00655-3 |
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