# Assessing Healthcare Access in Rural Algeria: A Survey‐Based Cross‐Sectional Analysis of Healthcare Utilization Based on Socioeconomic and Health Factors, Experiences, and Spatial Disparities

## TL;DR

This study examines healthcare access in a remote Algerian village, finding low utilization and identifying factors like income, gender, and travel time that influence it.

## Contribution

The study is the first to quantify healthcare utilization in a remote Algerian village and identify its socioeconomic, health-related, and spatial determinants.

## Key findings

- Healthcare utilization was low, with a median score of 4 out of 33 for 10 basic services.
- Factors like being female, widowed, having a higher income, and longer travel times were linked to higher healthcare utilization.
- Frequent interregional healthcare mobility was observed due to a lack of comprehensive local care.

## Abstract

Equitable access to healthcare constitutes a fundamental aspect of the Algerian health policy. Yet, no studies addressed determinants of healthcare access in rural areas. This study quantified healthcare utilization (HCU) in a remote Algerian village, and analyzed the associated socioeconomic and health‐related factors, spatial disparities, and experiences with local healthcare services.

A survey‐based, cross‐sectional study was conducted among 400 adult residents of Boussemghoun village, located in the Saharan Atlas Mountains. A structured questionnaire quantified the utilization of 10 basic healthcare services over the past 12‐months. Socioeconomic and health‐related factors, spatial disparities, and experiences with local healthcare services were analyzed as the independent factors of high HCU using multivariate logistic regression.

Among the participants, 39.7% had at least one chronic disease and 36.5% declared having traveled for healthcare during the past year. Levels of HCU were low across all care services, with the median (P75) HCU score was 4 (9) out of 33. Independent factors of high HCU included female (OR = 2.62, p = 0.003), widowed status (OR = 4.65, p = 0.026), high income (OR = 3.64, p = 0.048), taking 2+ chronic medications (OR = 3.61, p = 0.001), acute health issue in the past year (OR = 3.19, p = 0.013), interregional healthcare mobility (OR = 1.87, p = 0.041), longer travel times to local facilities (OR = 3.84, p = 0.004).

Healthcare access in Boussemghoun is challenged by a critical lack of comprehensive care, resulting in frequent interregional healthcare mobility and a mismatch between HCU and apparently high healthcare needs. Strategic action is needed to mitigate the resulting inequalities and enhance local access to multidisciplinary quality care.

What is known: Rural populations often face barriers to healthcare access, but data from remote Algerian settings remain scarce.
What is new: This study provides the first quantification of healthcare utilization in a remote Algerian village and identifies socioeconomic, health‐related, and spatial determinants of access.
Clinical implications: Findings highlight the need for targeted policies to reduce interregional healthcare mobility and improve local access to multidisciplinary care in underserved rural areas.

What is known: Rural populations often face barriers to healthcare access, but data from remote Algerian settings remain scarce.

What is new: This study provides the first quantification of healthcare utilization in a remote Algerian village and identifies socioeconomic, health‐related, and spatial determinants of access.

Clinical implications: Findings highlight the need for targeted policies to reduce interregional healthcare mobility and improve local access to multidisciplinary care in underserved rural areas.