DOI: 10.4103/wkmj.wkmj_69_26 ISSN: 2707-6180

Differences in the Quality of Healthcare Services between Urban and Rural Areas: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study

Nurgul Alekenova, Oryngul Jumagaziyeva, Gulim Sadakbayeva, Laura Tilenova, Kymbat Tussupkaliyeva, Gulbanu Mukyshova
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BSTRACT

Objective:

The study aimed to compare healthcare quality and identify disparities between urban and rural populations to guide policy improvements.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2025 using a bilingual structured questionnaire distributed through Google Forms. Anonymous participation and informed consent were ensured. The minimum sample size was 384 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests in SPSS v13, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.

Results:

Urban consistently reported significantly better experiences across multiple dimensions of care. They felt more respected by healthcare professionals ( P < 0.001), had greater freedom to ask questions ( P = 0.012), and experienced higher confidentiality in consultations ( P = 0.002). Urban respondents also rated infrastructure aspects – such as furniture adequacy ( P = 0.014), water access ( P = 0.037), and toilet cleanliness ( P = 0.024) – more positive than rural respondents

Conclusion:

Significant urban-rural disparities in healthcare underscore the necessity for targeted policies to enhance rural training, infrastructure, and patient care, with an emphasis on equity and effective communication.

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