EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN MEGACITY KARACHI

This paper examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and healthcare service access to address healthcare inequalities in Karachi, Pakistan. Despite notable advancements in expanding healthcare services, disparities persist in the city. The study aims to understand how SES and gender influence healthcare utilization, with the goal of recommending targeted interventions for improving equity and effectiveness. The research employed a mixed-methods approach. A quantitative survey was conducted with 80 respondents using a closed-ended questionnaire based on a Likert scale distributed via social media platforms. Additionally, qualitative insights were gathered through six focus group discussions with participants selected through convenience sampling. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, revealed SES as a significant predictor of access to healthcare services in Karachi. Interestingly, the study found no significant differences in SES-based healthcare access by gender, indicating that gender was not a determining factor in this context. The findings underscore the need to address broader socioeconomic barriers to ensure equitable healthcare access. The study has recommended increasing investments in healthcare infrastructure, expanding services for low-income populations, enhancing health literacy programs, improving telemedicine delivery, and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration in health policy development and implementation.