Access To Health Facilities Research Articles

Factors Affecting Maternal Behavior in Achieving Complete Basic Immunization for Toddlers Aged 12–23 in Banggai Laut Regency, Indonesia

Background: Complete Basic Immunization (CBI) is essential to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). However, the coverage of complete basic immunization in Banggai Laut Regency remains low at 67.9%, compared to the national target of 90%. Several factors, including maternal knowledge, attitudes, accessibility to healthcare facilities, healthcare workers' roles, family support, and maternal occupation, are believed to influence maternal behavior in immunization provision. This study aimed to analyze factors affecting maternal behavior in achieving complete basic immunization for toddlers aged 12–23 months in Banggai Laut Regency. Methodology: This cross-sectional analytical survey involved 321 mothers selected through cluster random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using Chi-Square tests and logistic regression. Results: Significant associations were found between complete basic immunization and good knowledge (p<0.000; OR=3.2), positive attitudes (p<0.000; OR=2.8), availability of healthcare facilities (p<0.000; OR=3.4), proximity to healthcare services (p<0.000; OR=3.7), supportive roles of healthcare workers (p<0.000; OR=2.9), and strong spousal support (p<0.000; OR=2.5). Maternal occupation showed no significant effect (p=0.379). Conclusions: Knowledge, attitude, availability of healthcare facilities, distance to healthcare facilities, spousal support, and the role of healthcare workers are key factors in improving the coverage of complete basic immunization. Interventions targeting these factors are essential to achieving national immunization targets in Banggai Laut Regency.

Analysis of Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Community Access to Public Health Services in Rural Areas

This study aims to analyze socioeconomic factors that affect rural communities ' access to public health services. The study used quantitative descriptive design with cross-sectional approach. The Data was collected through questionnaires from 190 respondents randomly selected from several villages. Data analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression to evaluate the relationship between family income, education level, employment status, and infrastructure access to health care access. The results showed that socioeconomic factors, such as family income, education level, and employment status, have a significant influence on the ability of rural communities to access health facilities. In addition, the distance to health facilities and the limited means of transport are the main barriers, creating access inequalities between people in rural and urban areas. The study recommends improving health infrastructure, health education programs, as well as subsidy policies to help low-income communities. The findings provide important insights for governments and relevant agencies to design inclusive and sustainable policies to improve the quality of health services in rural areas.

Comparative assessment of costs of household trips to healthcare facilities in contiguous riverine regions in Rivers State, Nigeria

Physical access to neighbourhood facilities for utilization depends on distance, time and cost factors in relation to location characteristics. In this study the costs of accessing healthcare facilities in island riverine contiguous regions of Rivers State, Nigeria were considered. The study employed the survey research design following quantitative approach for data collection and analyses. Furthermore, the multistage sampling technique employed and 30% (66) communities of total communities of 223 in the study area was purposively determined. Also sample size of (56,131) households was obtained from total population of 305, 289 of the study area as provided by 1991 National Population Census data by application of Krejcie and Morgan Model (1970) principle and 5 persons average household considered. Finally, the random sampling technique was used in selection of communities for administration of questionnaires in the study area. A total of 382 respondents (household heads) were interviewed including key informants (government agencies and professionals). Other survey tools used were photographs, observations, Stock-watch and Geographic Positioning System (GPS) Speedometer. 328 questionnaires were retrieved from the field and considered valid for analysis with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Hypotheses were tested by the application of the multi regression model. It was found in traveling for healthcare, an aggregate of 21.4% of household members in the region monthly made trips in communities with and without PHC facilities with multi-modal transport systems at varied costs.

Implementation fidelity of a multisite maternity waiting homes programme in rural Zambia: application of the conceptual framework for implementation fidelity to a complex, hybrid-design study

BackgroundImplementation fidelity measures are critical for understanding complex interventions. Though maternity waiting homes (MWHs) are recommended by the WHO and have been used to help pregnant women access health facilities...

Critical Examination of Healthcare Access Strategies and Their Implications on Public Health

Healthcare accessibility is one of the main determinants of health in the population and the world. The three A’s, access, cost, and availability of health facilities, play a significant role in how quality health care is being delivered and, in the effort, to prevent diseases and improve the health standards of the communities. Analyzing healthcare access models, this paper discusses best practices as well as problems that have been observed in different world regions. Major factors are assessed, including UHC, selective health policies, PPL, and the implementation of technologies for describing and increasing access to health care services. The research also focuses on a particular aspect of healthcare availability: the number of accessible healthcare facilities available to people and the extent to which they can address the population’s health needs in terms of existing disparities, economic burden, and response to emerging public health issues. This paper analyzes global case studies that reveal emerging challenges and suggest solutions to strengthen healthcare access for diverse populations.

Geospatial Assessment of Healthcare Accessibility and Equity in Qatar in Preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Accessibility to healthcare is one of the significant components of social determinants of public healthcare and is integral to societies’ overall well-being and economic prosperity. This study intends to assess changes in spatial distributions and accessibility of healthcare services within Qatar for 2010–2020, specifically concerning preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Assessment of the healthcare infrastructure is made using various techniques within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework, like kernel density estimation, network analysis, and proximity analysis. The results show that access to healthcare has significantly improved, especially in urban centers such as Doha, besides a significant reduction in the length one travels to access healthcare facilities. However, despite improvements, many areas outside Doha still lag, requiring further investment in strategic planning. This study underscores how effective the health policies in Qatar and the Qatar National Master Plan (QNMP) have been in furthering principles of equity in access to healthcare services. The policy implications are that healthcare service planning should be integrated with urban development and transport networks for sustainable improvement in healthcare access. Thus, investment in infrastructure, strategic planning of locations, and addressing residual disparities are crucial for the long-term healthcare equity and system resilience of Qatar’s healthcare system.

Spatio-temporal analysis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Astambul District, South Kalimantan, Indonesia 2020-2021

Respiratory tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern and ranks among the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide, following human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Globally, it is estimated that 1.2 billion people are at risk of being infected with tuberculosis, and Indonesia is the country that contributes the third-highest number of TB cases worldwide, behind China and India. Tuberculosis is still a significant issue in South Kalimantan, notably in Banjar Regency. This study is a descriptive study that intends to identify respiratory TB clusters spatially and temporally in Astambul District during 2020–2021 with the SatScan application, which is visualized as a map of respiratory TB clusters using the Quantum GIS 3.28 application. Data on respiratory TB cases collected from the Banjar District Health Office were examined using retrospective space-time scan statistics, employing a Poisson probability model for analysis. This study found 4 respiratory TB clusters, and 2 of them had significant results, namely in 2020 (RR=6.90, p-value=0.000030) and 2021 (RR=5.27, p-value=0.00003). Factors that affect these clusters are population density, the physical condition of houses, humidity levels, and the availability of health facilities.

Forest and Land Fire Management Strategy in South Sumatra Province through the Penta Helix Model

This study aims to determine whether there is an influence of the level of knowledge of JKN-KIS participants, the attitude of health workers and the accessibility of health facilities simultaneously on the utilization of health services for JKN-KIS participants at Community Health Centers and their networks. The method used in this study is quantitative. A minimum of 99 samples from JKN-KIS participants in the work area of Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency. In this study, there were two hypothesis tests, namely the Partial Significance Test (T-Test) and the Simultaneous Test (F-Test). The data analysis technique used descriptive statistical analysis techniques; and multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that the level of knowledge of JKN-KIS participants did not have a significant effect on the utilization of health services at the Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District and its network. The accessibility of health facilities had a positive and significant effect on the utilization of health services for JKN-KIS participants at the Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District. The level of knowledge of JKN-KIS participants, the attitude of health workers and the accessibility of health facilities simultaneously had a positive and significant effect on the utilization of health services for JKN-KIS participants at the Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District. Prosperous Mesuji.

Fulfillment of the Health Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Indonesia has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and regulates the right to health services through Law Number 8 of 2016, but there are still challenges in ensuring equal access for people with disabilities in Indonesia. Lack of accessibility of health facilities and discrimination faced by people with disabilities. Using normative legal research methods and statutory provision approaches, this article examines how persons with disabilities can exercise their rights and how the Government of Indonesia implements policies to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The results show that despite legal protection efforts, gaps still exist in terms of physical accessibility and health services for people with disabilities. Many facilities do not meet accessibility standards, and medical personnel's understanding of the rights of people with disabilities is still limited. Even though several regulations in Indonesia emphasize equal access to health services, much attention is still paid to the issue of physical accessibility, inadequate information, and lack of understanding and awareness on the part of healthcare providers. To achieve equal access for people with disabilities, it is necessary to strengthen legal protection and implement policies and concrete steps in improving facilities, information, and education for health workers.

Early discharge in health facilities following vaginal delivery and its associated factors among mothers in four African countries: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of early discharge among women who gave vaginal delivery in health facilities.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingFour African countries.ParticipantsA total weighted sample of 14 942 women who...

Adapting and pilot testing a tool to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities for people with disabilities in Luuka District, Uganda

BackgroundPeople with disabilities frequently experience barriers in seeking healthcare that lead to poorer health outcomes compared to people without disabilities. To overcome this, it is important to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities – broadly defined to include a disability-inclusive service provision – so as to document present status and identify areas for improvement. We aimed to identify, adapt and pilot test an appropriate tool to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities in Luuka District, Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a rapid literature review to identify appropriate tools, selecting the Disability Awareness Checklist (DAC) on account of its relative brevity and development as a sensitization and action tool. We undertook three rounds of adaptation, working together with youth researchers (aged 18–35) with disabilities who then underwent 2 days of training as DAC facilitators. The adapted tool comprised 71 indicators across four domains and 12 sub-domains. We also developed a structured feedback form for facilitators to complete with healthcare workers. We calculated median accessibility scores overall, per domain and per sub-domain, and categorised feedback form suggestions by type and presumed investment level. We pilot-tested the adapted tool in 5 primary health facilities in one sub-district of Luuka, nested within a pilot healthcare worker training on disability.ResultsThe median overall facility accessibility score was 17.8% (range 12.3–28.8). Facility scores were highest in the universal design and accessibility domain (25.8%, 22.6–41.9), followed by reasonable accommodation (20.0%, 6.7–33.3). Median scores for capacity of facility staff (6.67%, 6.7–20.0), and linkages to other services were lower (0.0%, 0–25.0). Within the feedback forms, there were a median of 21 suggestions (range 14–26) per facility. Most commonly, these were categorised as minor structural changes (20% of suggestions), with a third categorised as no (2%) or low (33%) cost, and the majority (40%) medium cost.ConclusionsOverall accessibility scores were low, with many opportunities for low-cost improvement at the facility level. We did not identify any issues with the implementation of the tool, suggesting few further adaptations are required for its future use in this setting.

Mother's Experience of Caring for Children with Stunting in the Riverside of Banjar Regency

Introduction: Stunting is one of the most common impacts of chronic malnutrition in the world. Banjar Regency is one of the regencies in South Kalimantan that has experienced a significant increase in stunting cases. Mothers often act as the primary caregivers of children, thus all actions taken by mothers related to care including fulfilling nutritional needs can affect the health and nutritional status of their children. It is important for a mother to have good knowledge about fulfilling nutrition for children, fulfilling immunizations, maintaining sanitation and treating infectious diseases in children. One way to gain knowledge is from experience. Mothers with stunted children have experiences that can be lessons regarding the actions taken during treatment, the obstacles felt and how to prevent stunting in the next generation. Objective: This study aims to explore the experiences of mothers in caring for children with stunting in the riverside of ??Banjar Regency. Method: A qualitative approach with a phenomenological design was used in this study. Data were collected using the in-depth interview method and analyzed using the sequence: transcribing, categorizing, using N-Vivo 12. The population in this study were all mothers who had stunted children in the riverside of ??Banjar Regency. In this study, mothers who became participants were selected using a purposive sampling method, namely data was taken from information from health center officers in Banjar Regency with inclusion criteria having experience caring for children with stunting, being able to communicate well and being willing to be participants. Data saturation was obtained on the 16th participant. Result: The results of this study identified 5 themes, namely children's eating habits, children's conditions, mothers' efforts, mothers' difficulties and the role of fathers. Children's eating habits include incomplete menus, eating little, eating irregularly, eating without side dishes, and snacks before eating. The condition of stunted children in this study was slow development, frequent illness, and poor sleep quality. Mother’s efforts were to provide exclusive breastfeeding and routinely go to posyandu. The difficulties faced by mothers were difficulty in accessing health facilities, economic problems, children who did not want to be separated from their mothers, confusion in handling stunting and the presence of a closed mouth movement in children. The role of fathers included collaborating with mothers in parenting and being less involved in parenting. Conclusion: The conclusion obtained in this study was that 5 themes were obtained from the experience of mothers in caring for children with stunting in the riverside of Banjar Regency.

Systems delay in women with breast cancer - A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study from central rural India.

Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in both developed and developing nations, with an incidence of 2 million cases every year and around 6 lakh deaths. Even after the availability of healthcare facilities, delays in the management of breast cancer are seen in both developed and developing countries. To assess the patient and system-level delays and to determine the factors that cause the identified delays in women with breast cancer from central rural India. The present Mixed-method study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in central rural India among 128 female breast cancer patients. Socio-demographic and clinical information of the patients was summarized using frequency and proportions. Delays were reported using a median number of days and interquartile range. To assess the factors associated with the delays, we used Negative log-binomial regression analysis. Qualitative data analysis was done by manual thematic analysis. The mean age of the study participants was 50.54, SD was 10.46, Median was 50, and the Interquartile range (IQR) was 43-58 years. A median patient delay of 45 days, and IQR was 15-120. A median system delay of 19 days and IQR was 7-35 days. We identified seven themes addressing the factors influencing delays at various levels by thematic analysis. Negative log-binomial regression models were built for the association of the socio- demographic and clinical variables with patient and system delays. Our study concludes that there is a substantial delay at patient level reporting to healthcare care providers, which needs an increase in awareness levels in the community through dedicated Behavior Change Communication strategies along with addressing identified socio-cultural and economic determinants influencing delay at various levels.

Improving the physical health of overweight/obese people suffering from severe mental disorder: what is the role of antipsychotic drugs and of lifestyle psychosocial interventions?

People with severe mental disorders experience premature mortality compared with the general population. Several factors contribute to the mortality gap, including the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, poor screening for physical illnesses, difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities, specific clinical features of mental disorders and some pharmacological treatment such as antipsychotic medications with serious metabolic side effects.In the present study, carried out in the framework of the LIFESTYLE trial, a funded nationwide multicentric study, we aimed to assess the impact of different antipsychotics in mediating the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention on healthy lifestyle behaviours. The antipsychotics have been grouped in metabolically more problematic (MMP) vs. metabolically less problematic (MLP). The final sample consists of 401 participants with a mean age of 45.6±11.8 years, mainly female (57.1%), suffering from bipolar disorder (43.4% of cases), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (29.7%) and depressive disorders (26.9% of cases). 36.2% of patients (N=145) received MMP antipsychotics, 32.2% were treated with MLP antipsychotics and 31.6% did not take any antipsychotic medication, but were treated with antidepressants, mood stabilizers and/or benzodiazepines. At 6-month follow-up, patients receiving the experimental lifestyle intervention and treated with MLP medication reported a significant reduction in BMI (p<0.05).Our findings clearly indicate that a multilevel, personalized and individualized therapeutic approach for the treatment of patients with severe mental disorders is needed, with the involvement of different physicians and health providers for an appropriate long-term management of patients with severe mental disorders.

Joint effect of tobacco and meat on cardiovascular disease and treatment adherence in Indian Women

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death for both men and women in India. But it is often overlooked in women. Tobacco and meat consumption are common risk factors for CVD. While individual studies have explored the link between tobacco or meat consumption and CVD, their joint effect remained understudied. Methods The study analyzed data from the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, of 711431 women aged 15 to 49 in India. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the risk of individual and joint effects of tobacco and meat consumptions on self-reported CVD prevalence. Age, BMI, education, wealth index, residency, region, religion, and alcohol were used as covariates. Additionally, interactions model was assessed. Lastly, treatment adherence for CVD was studied, considering treatment behavior, insurance, and healthcare access barriers. Results Cardiovascular disease prevalence was 0.72%. The risk of CVD was higher among the smokers [aOR: 2.26(1.83-2.73)] than smokeless tobacco [aOR: 1.34(1.21-1.49)] consumers. In contrast daily meat consumers showed higher risk [aOR: 1.23(1.03-1.47)] than meat non-consumers. Women who were consumers of both tobacco and meat had risk of [aOR: 1.15 (1.02 - 1.30)] CVD compared to who did not consume both tobacco and meat. Interaction was not detected between tobacco and meat consumption. CVD treatment adherence was higher among the women who possess an insurance [OR: 1.11(1.04-1.19)]. The risk of treatment non-adherence was higher among women who were aged below 40 with no education and from the poorest section of the society. Barriers for accessing health care facilities were solo attendance, provider availability, and drug access. Conclusions Tobacco and meat both need to be addressed to control CVD among women. Empowering women and bringing them under government insurance with an improve health care system are crucial. Key messages • The joint effect of tobacco and meat consumption increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases among women. However, there was no interaction effects observed between tobacco and meat consumption. • Healthcare facilities needs to be improved and awareness among young adults are extremely crucial for better CVD treatment management among women in India.

Factors Influencing the Utilization of Health Services for JKN-KIS Participants (Study: Grilled Pematang III.B Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency)

This study aims to determine whether there is an influence of the level of knowledge of JKN-KIS participants, the attitude of health workers and the accessibility of health facilities simultaneously on the utilization of health services for JKN-KIS participants at Community Health Centers and their networks.The method used in this study is a quantitative method. Minimum of 99 samples from JKN-KIS participants in the work area of ​​Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency. In this study, there were two hypothesis tests, namely the Partial Significance Test (T-Test) and the Simultaneous Test (F-Test). The data analysis technique used descriptive statistical analysis techniques; multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that the level of knowledge of JKN-KIS participants did not have a significant effect on the utilization of health services at the Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District and its network. The accessibility of health facilities had a positive and significant effect on the utilization of health services for JKN-KIS participants at the Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District. The level of knowledge of JKN-KIS participants, the attitude of health workers and the accessibility of health facilities simultaneously had a positive and significant effect on the utilization of health services for JKN-KIS participants at the Pematang Panggang III.b Health Center, Mesuji Makmur District, Prosperous Mesuji.

Experiences of Sexual and Gender Minorities with Health Care in the Philippines: A Qualitative Study.

There is limited availability and accessibility of health care facilities and services tailored to the specific health care needs of sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in the Philippines. The purpose of this study was to describe SGMs' experiences with health care services in the Philippines. Using a phenomenological design, interviews were conducted with participants recruited online through SGM networks and organizations. Individual, online-recorded interviews were conducted with 14 participants who were at least 18 years old, were Filipino nationals residing in the Philippines, self-identified as SGM, could comprehend and write in Filipino, and received any health care service within the past year. Data were entered and analyzed using the NVivo software. Three major themes emerged: patient-centered communication and relationship, holistic care, and caring environment. Participants identified the significance of genuine, affirming, and respectful communication in building positive relationships and continuing engagement with health care. Holistic care is embedded in clinical competence, gender sensitivity, continuity of care, and collaborative practice with other disciplines. A caring environment minimizes gender-related stigma and discrimination and promotes acceptance of diverse sexual identities. Filipino SGMs face several multifaceted health care concerns and challenges stemming at the individual, institutional, and societal levels. Sexual and gender biases, stigma, and discrimination are major barriers to health care among SGMs. Promotion of culturally and gender-sensitive care among Filipino SGMs should involve training of health care providers and creation of programs and policies to understand and respect SGMs while considering social, cultural, and political influences on their health and well-being.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The provision of adequate basic healthcare services is becoming increasingly difficult due to rapid population growth and lack of available resources. One of the imperatives of healthcare provision is a concern for both social and spatial justice. This study examines the spatial distribution and accessibility of healthcare facilities in Niger State. Secondary data were collected from the Niger State Ministry of Health and the National Population Commission. ArcGIS 10.4.1 software was used to create distribution maps of healthcare facilities throughout the state. The results of the study indicated that healthcare facilities in Niger State were not evenly distributed across the state. Niger East had the most accessible healthcare facilities, followed by Niger South. Despite having a sufficient number of healthcare facilities that meet the minimum global average recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in-terms of population ratio, the distribution of these facilities per population ratio were also not evenly distributed across the State with Niger North having the least healthcare facilities per population ratio which needs to be addressed to meet the WHO-recommended threshold. Moreover, several local government areas, including Muya, Agwara, Mashegu, Edati, Gbako, and Katcha, had no secondary healthcare facilities, indicating that healthcare accessibility in Niger North and Niger South was significantly limited. The study highlights the need for more well-equipped general hospitals in currently inadequate areas and the provision of primary healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas throughout the State. Overall, the findings suggest that healthcare accessibility in Niger State is a critical issue that requires immediate attention.

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products: Availability, Access and Expenditure in Italy.

Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are an innovative output of biomedical research, characterized by a high level of uncertainty on long-term efficacy and safety, elevated price tags and often complex administration. All these elements compounded make their European authorization, national price negotiation for reimbursement and subsequent dispensation and administration to the patient less straightforward and often less successful than for less innovative drugs. To assess if these hurdles have affected patient access and how are ATMPs used in Italy, we have analysed availability, access and expenditure of ATMPs in the period spanning from 2016 to 2023. We have analysed real world data on the duration of ATMP regulatory evaluations for authorisation and reimbursement, time to first patient access and expenditure for ATMPs through the Italian National Health System (INHS) expenditure data flow, as well as information on patient mobility and availability of health facilities specialized in administering ATMPs. Of the 18 ATMPs currently authorized in Europe, 9 are reimbursed by the INHS, but only 6 were actually used, generating a cumulative expenditure of roughly 300 Mln€ from 2016 to 2023, largely owing to CAR-T therapies. Time to patient access reaches an average of 340.6 days from the day publication in the official Gazette of the reimbursement decision to first patient treatment in one of the 107 health facilities authorized for ATMP administration, after an even longer evaluation time by regulatory agencies. Since the first reimbursement decision for an ATMP in Italy, back in 2016, these innovative drugs became progressively more and more available, both in terms of numbers and in terms of coverage across the country. Almost all Italian regions have at least one centre for ATMP administration and has performed a treatment in 2023. Notwithstanding their high per-treatment prices, ATMPs currently have a rather contained expenditure, however it is bound to keep growing in the next few years.

Detecting spatial clusters of human scabies in Tigray, Ethiopia from 2018 to 2023

BackgroundScabies is one of public health concerns among communicable disease in Ethiopia, especially among disadvantaged and the poor. This current study aims to detect the spatiotemporal patterns of scabies in Tigray from 2018 to 2023 using scabies data aggregated at the zonal level. The study also examined the persistent patterns in the spatial variation of scabies incidence across the administrative regions during the study period.MethodWe collected scabies data using a weekly disease surveillance reporting format of the country from 2018 to 2023 across all accessible district health facilities in Tigray region, Ethiopia. We conducted retrospective analyses using both purely spatial and spatiotemporal scan statistic approaches, employing a discrete Poisson probability model to identify statistically significant clusters of high scabies rates throughout the Tigray regional zones in Ethiopia. Our methodology involved the use of Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic software (SaTScan v10.1.3), R programming software version 4.3.1, and ArcGIS Pro for all analyses.ResultsA total of 101,116 cases of scabies were reported from 2018 to 2023. Our study indicated a spatial heterogeneity in the pattern of scabies across Tigray region as well as its localization among geographically contiguous zones across space, except for the Western zone of Tigray where no data was collected. The detected statistically significant spatial clusters \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:p-value<0.05$$\\end{document} persisted mainly in the Central, Eastern and Northwestern zones of Tigray over the six years of the study period. The highest relative risk (RR) was recorded in year 2021 (\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:RR=8.49,\\:LLR=6860.34,p-value=0.01)$$\\end{document}. The central zone had the major clusters of scabies at district level from 2018 to 2023. The heterogeneous distribution of scabies across Tigray could be due to the spatial variations in the determinants of scabies (such as socioeconomic status, demographics, and material deprivation) across the region.ConclusionAn enormous burden of scabies was reported over a period of six years. The present study found localized clusters of high scabies rates at district and zonal levels in Tigray, Ethiopia, possibly due to differences in various determinants of scabies such as access to WASH services. The findings could help the government and health authorities to develop and implement scabies control strategies in Tigray, with a focus on high-risk districts and zones to ensure optimal resource allocation.