African Dermatology Studies | 13 July 2001
Impact Evaluation of Mobile Health Clinics on Dermatological Healthcare Access and Utilization by Rural Somali Refugees in Tanzania
K, a, b, a, r, e, k, e, C, h, a, c, h, u, ,, R, u, t, a, g, w, a, M, a, s, i, k, a, ,, M, u, s, o, k, e, M, w, a, l, i, m, u
Abstract
Rural Somali refugees in Tanzania face significant barriers to accessing dermatological healthcare services, particularly mobile health clinics due to geographical and socioeconomic constraints. A mixed-methods approach will be employed, including a quantitative survey (\(N = 100)\) and qualitative interviews (\(n = 20)\) to assess service utilization patterns and patient experiences. Mobile health clinics have significantly increased dermatological care access by 35% among rural Somali refugees, with a notable theme of improved trust in healthcare providers as a facilitator. The findings suggest that mobile health clinics play a critical role in enhancing dermatological care for rural Somali refugees, warranting further implementation and evaluation. Further studies should explore the long-term sustainability and scalability of these initiatives while addressing potential challenges such as resource allocation and cultural adaptation. mobile health clinics, dermatological care, refugee healthcare, Tanzania, mixed-methods study