Barriers and enablers to primary health care center access for older people in Lebanon: A qualitative inquiry.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Older people in low- and middle-income countries face significant challenges when accessing primary care services. In Lebanon, most older people (75%) living with at least one chronic disease previously accessed private health services for care. However, the economic crisis substantially increased their reliance on primary healthcare centers (PHCCs), while factors shaping access to public services were unknown. This study explores the barriers and enablers influencing access to PHCCs' services.

Methods

This descriptive qualitative study involved 57 people including older adults (aged 60-92 years), informal caregivers, and service providers, recruited using maximum variation sampling. Data were collected through seven focus groups and fifteen interviews. The Fram

SUBMITTER: Dableh S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12548930 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature