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<p>A significant number of individuals worldwide have been displaced as refugees. This population face numerous challenges in host countries, particularly in accessing healthcare. Given the large population of Afghan refugees globally, this study aimed to identify the challenges they encounter in access to healthcare services in Iran. This exploratory qualitative study was conducted in 2025 across multiple healthcare centers in Shiraz, a city in southeastern Iran. A total of 15 individuals participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed guided by Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use framework, utilizing inductive thematic content analysis, which yielded five main themes and 13 sub-themes. The identified themes included Financial Challenges, Structural Limitations, Knowledge and Communication Gaps, Psychological, and Social Challenges. The enabling factors identified within the Andersen’s framework, constituted the largest proportion among the influential factors. Moreover, financial challenges were presented to be the highest cited theme of factors influencing the phenomenon. The study highlighted logistical and structural limitations in Iran’s healthcare system as key barriers to Afghan refugees’ service access. Effective solutions require acknowledging the interconnected barriers refugees face. Thus, an integrated approach based on equity, empathy, and structural reform is essential to avoid their marginalization in national health programs.</p>

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Challenges of Afghan refugees in accessing healthcare services in Iran: a qualitative interview study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月25日

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  • Mohsen Khosravi,
  • Zahra Zare,
  • Neda Jalili,
  • Milad Ahmadi Marzaleh,
  • Ramin Ravangard

摘要

A significant number of individuals worldwide have been displaced as refugees. This population face numerous challenges in host countries, particularly in accessing healthcare. Given the large population of Afghan refugees globally, this study aimed to identify the challenges they encounter in access to healthcare services in Iran. This exploratory qualitative study was conducted in 2025 across multiple healthcare centers in Shiraz, a city in southeastern Iran. A total of 15 individuals participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed guided by Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use framework, utilizing inductive thematic content analysis, which yielded five main themes and 13 sub-themes. The identified themes included Financial Challenges, Structural Limitations, Knowledge and Communication Gaps, Psychological, and Social Challenges. The enabling factors identified within the Andersen’s framework, constituted the largest proportion among the influential factors. Moreover, financial challenges were presented to be the highest cited theme of factors influencing the phenomenon. The study highlighted logistical and structural limitations in Iran’s healthcare system as key barriers to Afghan refugees’ service access. Effective solutions require acknowledging the interconnected barriers refugees face. Thus, an integrated approach based on equity, empathy, and structural reform is essential to avoid their marginalization in national health programs.