Informal workers and healthcare in Assam: assessing access and awareness

Abstract Background Health is a fundamental driver of sustainable development. In Assam, informal workers, who make up a significant portion of the labour force, face substantial barriers to accessing healthcare services. These challenges include physical distance, high costs, time constraints, and limited health awareness. Methods This study adopts a mixed-method approach using primary survey data from 600 informal workers across rural and urban areas of Assam. Healthcare accessibility is examined through four dimensions: distance, travel time, cost, and awareness. An Awareness Index is constructed based on participants’ exposure to health-related media (such as radio, television, and newspapers) and their involvement in public health programmes. Chi-square tests are used to explore the association between access indicators and socio-economic variables, including age, gender, education, caste, and income. Results The findings reveal notable disparities in healthcare access across the districts of Dhubri, Sonitpur, and Dhemaji. Travel-related difficulties and low awareness levels are significant barriers. The Awareness Index scores are particularly low among older individuals, those with lower education levels, and economically disadvantaged groups. Statistically significant associations are observed between healthcare access and socio-economic factors. Conclusion The study emphasises the need to improve local healthcare infrastructure, reduce travel burdens, and enhance health awareness through community-based interventions. Policy efforts must focus on inclusive and equitable healthcare delivery to address the needs of informal workers in Assam.