Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran
Abstract Background Imported malaria cases could be considered one of the threats to malaria elimination. Therefore, increasing migrants’ access to malaria preventive measures can play an essential role in maintaining appropriate conditions and preventing malaria outbreaks. This study aimed to provi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13913-3 |
| _version_ | 1828258220343296000 |
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| author | Hassan Okati-Aliabad Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam Mahdi Mohammadi Jalil Nejati Mansour Ranjbar Ahmad Raeisi Goodarz Kolifarhood Fariba Shahraki-Sanavi Alireza Khorram |
| author_facet | Hassan Okati-Aliabad Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam Mahdi Mohammadi Jalil Nejati Mansour Ranjbar Ahmad Raeisi Goodarz Kolifarhood Fariba Shahraki-Sanavi Alireza Khorram |
| author_sort | Hassan Okati-Aliabad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Imported malaria cases could be considered one of the threats to malaria elimination. Therefore, increasing migrants’ access to malaria preventive measures can play an essential role in maintaining appropriate conditions and preventing malaria outbreaks. This study aimed to provide detailed information about access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran. Methods This study was conducted in a vast region consisting of 4 provinces and 38 cities located in the south and southeast of the country. Study participants were migrants who moved to the study area in the past three months. A sample of 4163 migrants participated in the study. They were selected through a multi-stage sampling method to obtain a representative community sample. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires about participants’ socio-demographic specification, commuting characteristics, travel aim, access, ways of preparing, and reasons to use or not to use malaria protection tools. Quantitative and qualitative variables were described and analyzed finally. Results The mean age of individuals was 28.6 ± 10.8, with a range of 3–88 years old. Migrants’ country of origin was Afghanistan (56.6%), Pakistan (38.4%), and Iran (5%). Most migrants (69.2%) did not have malaria protection tools while staying in Iran. Among those who procured the protection tools, 74% used long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), 13.4% used mosquito repellent sticks and coil, and 12.7% did not use any tools. Respectively, lack of knowledge about where they can get LLINs, followed by being expensive, unavailability in the market, not cooperation of health officer, and no need to use were expressed as the causes for having no access. The main reasons for non-using the tools were lack of knowledge about their application, followed by a defect in protection tools, ineffectiveness, and being harmful, respectively. Migrants who were supported by an employer accessed more to LLINs. Conclusions This study reveals significant shortcomings in knowledge, access, and utilization of malaria protection tools among migrants in Iran. Inequitable access to public health services is predictable during migration; however, access to sustainable protection tools is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:51:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69cd111b20ff49a89a6ecca50aa06d92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:51:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-69cd111b20ff49a89a6ecca50aa06d922022-12-22T03:05:50ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-08-012211910.1186/s12889-022-13913-3Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to IranHassan Okati-Aliabad0Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam1Mahdi Mohammadi2Jalil Nejati3Mansour Ranjbar4Ahmad Raeisi5Goodarz Kolifarhood6Fariba Shahraki-Sanavi7Alireza Khorram8Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesHealth Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesHealth Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesHealth Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesHealth Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesNational Program for Malaria Control, Center of Disease Control & Prevention, Ministry of Health and Medical EducationNational Program for Malaria Control, Center of Disease Control & Prevention, Ministry of Health and Medical EducationHealth Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesHealth Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Imported malaria cases could be considered one of the threats to malaria elimination. Therefore, increasing migrants’ access to malaria preventive measures can play an essential role in maintaining appropriate conditions and preventing malaria outbreaks. This study aimed to provide detailed information about access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran. Methods This study was conducted in a vast region consisting of 4 provinces and 38 cities located in the south and southeast of the country. Study participants were migrants who moved to the study area in the past three months. A sample of 4163 migrants participated in the study. They were selected through a multi-stage sampling method to obtain a representative community sample. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires about participants’ socio-demographic specification, commuting characteristics, travel aim, access, ways of preparing, and reasons to use or not to use malaria protection tools. Quantitative and qualitative variables were described and analyzed finally. Results The mean age of individuals was 28.6 ± 10.8, with a range of 3–88 years old. Migrants’ country of origin was Afghanistan (56.6%), Pakistan (38.4%), and Iran (5%). Most migrants (69.2%) did not have malaria protection tools while staying in Iran. Among those who procured the protection tools, 74% used long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), 13.4% used mosquito repellent sticks and coil, and 12.7% did not use any tools. Respectively, lack of knowledge about where they can get LLINs, followed by being expensive, unavailability in the market, not cooperation of health officer, and no need to use were expressed as the causes for having no access. The main reasons for non-using the tools were lack of knowledge about their application, followed by a defect in protection tools, ineffectiveness, and being harmful, respectively. Migrants who were supported by an employer accessed more to LLINs. Conclusions This study reveals significant shortcomings in knowledge, access, and utilization of malaria protection tools among migrants in Iran. Inequitable access to public health services is predictable during migration; however, access to sustainable protection tools is recommended.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13913-3MigrantsMalariaProtectionIran |
| spellingShingle | Hassan Okati-Aliabad Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam Mahdi Mohammadi Jalil Nejati Mansour Ranjbar Ahmad Raeisi Goodarz Kolifarhood Fariba Shahraki-Sanavi Alireza Khorram Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran BMC Public Health Migrants Malaria Protection Iran |
| title | Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran |
| title_full | Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran |
| title_fullStr | Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran |
| title_short | Access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran |
| title_sort | access utilization and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to iran |
| topic | Migrants Malaria Protection Iran |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13913-3 |
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