Zahra Jaafari, Zahra Abdolahinia, Hajar Ghasemi, Ali Esmaeilpour, Saeideh Mahmoodzadeh, Ali Bahaodini, Seyed Vahid Ahmadi Tabatabaei, Najmeh Safa, Hamid Reza Tohidinik, Ali Akbar Haghdoost, Ali Sharifi, Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi, Hamid Safari,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (Vol 17,No.2, Summer 2021 2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: low utility of health care services is one of the main determinants of not achieving desired health indicators in urban areas. This study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitators of receiving health services from health centers in Kerman city, Iran.
Methods: This study was a qualitative study with a content analysis approach conducted in 2020. After selecting health centers with the experience of desirable or low utility services, purposive sampling continued until information saturation. A total of 78 staff members, recipients, and non-recipients of services citizens were interviewed semi-structured and face-to-face at health centers. All interviews were recorded and coded manually and then reviewed and analyzed using directional content analysis.
Results: The essential services for children and mothers, free services, and service providers' behavior were mentioned as facilitators of referral. Distance and physical factors, knowledge of different types of services, preference of private centers, time access, view of people on regular visits to centers, addresses and telephone numbers registered in the system, responsiveness to health needs, fear of disease disclosure, lack of human resources in the centers, and service providers' behavior, were among the barriers of visiting the centers.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, an accurate understanding of the under-coverage people's views and perceptions can help national and local planners and policymakers design the necessary strategies to increase the use of health services in urban health centers.
Shoboo Rahmati, Reza Goujani, Zahra Abdolahinia, Naser Nasiri, Sakineh Narouee, Amir Hossein Nekouei, Hamid Sharifi, Ali Akbar Haghdoost,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (Vol.19, No.3, Autumn 2023)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The influential role of epidemiologists in improving health outcomes and conducting pertinent research becomes apparent when they are strategically positioned and available in sufficient numbers within a nation. This study aims to identify potential job positions in epidemiology within both governmental and non-governmental sectors while estimating the necessary workforce of epidemiologists in the country until 2027.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted as a combination in two quantitative and qualitative parts. In the qualitative part, interviews were conducted with experts, policy makers, graduates and students of this field in the field of job opportunities. In the quantitative part, the number of epidemiologists needed was estimated using modeling and parameters obtained from the review of the literature and the opinions of experts in this field. In this study, the current and near future needs up to 1406 have been considered.
Results: Based on the interviewes, job opportunities for epidemiologists in the country encompass diverse domains, including problem management and analysis, conducting applied research, data analysis, dashboard development, teaching, training, and future-oriented work (forecasting). Acounting for lost job opportunities, the estimated number of epidemiologists required in the country until 2027 is 1122 individuals, that most of them contribute to the country's health system if job opportunities are created. The highest demand for epidemiologists was identidied in units of the Ministry of Health, medical universities, research centers, and hospitals.
Conclusion: Estimating the number of epidemiologists needed using modeling in the country and paying attention to the current number of graduates, reveals that the growth of this field and the increase in graduates can only occur if job opportunities are clearly defined, created, and implemented across proposed job levels.
Shoboo Rahmati, Zahra Abdolahinia, Sakineh Narouee, Naser Nasiri, Reza Goujani, Ali Akbar Haghdoost,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (Vol.19, No.4, Winter 2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Given the significant migration of educated individuals, particularly epidemiologists, throughout the country, it is crucial to investigate the underlying causes. This article presents the findings of an extensive study that sought to explore this issue by gathering insights from experts in the field.
Methods: The study was conducted using qualitative methods, employing content analysis. Data were collected between summer and autumn 2023 through semi-structured interviews with 32 epidemiologists in the country. Analysis followed the steps outlined by Lundman and Graneheim, with coding facilitated by MAXQDA software.
Results: The main challenges of epidemiology in Iran were divided into six main categories. In the field of graduate students, problems in recruitment and employment due to the lack of suitable careers, infrastructure and structural problems of the system, research problems and insufficient knowledge about the performance of this field are the most important challenges, and in the field of students, education problems, structural and infrastructure problems were reported. Also, the main reasons for the migration of epidemiologists were the lack of meritocracy and specialization, inappropriate privileges (including the application of unconventional recruitment quotas), lack of a job market and opportunities for graduates, and inadequate compensation and benefits.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it seems that the migration of epidemiologists as a valuable human resource abroad is a serious concern and problem. The lack of a suitable job position and ambiguity in the path to career advancement due to non-adherence to the meritocracy and skill-building system have increased the motivation to migrate in this group.
