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The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of perceived need, seeking behavior and utilization of health services in the elderly population of Sanandaj (west of Iran).

This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 800 elderly people in Sanandaj. Subjects were selected using multistage sampling and data were collected using self-report questionnaires. A multivariate logistic model with odds ratios (ORs) was used to determine the relationship of independent variables with seeking perceived need. Also, the concentration index was used to measure the inequality in using health services.

The perceived need for outpatient (during the last 30 days) and inpatient health-care services (during the past 12 months) was 69.7% and 29.7%, respectively. Among them, the unmet need for outpatient and inpatient health-care services was 46.6% and 17%, respectively. Having health insurance (adjusted OR 12.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–140.11), middle economic status (adjusted OR 5.18; 95% CI 1.30–20.51) and being in an age group of 65–70 years (adjusted OR 7.60; CI 1.42–40.61) increased the chance of seeking inpatient care. Also, being in an age group of 60–65 years (adjusted OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.18–0.95) reduced the chance of seeking outpatient care. There was also a pro-rich inequality in using outpatient health services.

The elderly population suffers from unmet health-care needs, especially in outpatient services. The most important reason for not seeking outpatient and inpatient services was financial barriers and self-medication, respectively. So, designing targeted policies and interventions to address barriers in the conversion of need to demand in the elderly population is essential.

The purpose of this study was to assess the self-perceived need, seeking and use of dental care and its main determinants in Kurdistan province, Iran.

A total of 1,056 adults in Kurdistan province were included in this cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling approach was used to select the samples. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, economic status, self-perceived need, seeking and use of dental care were collected using a self-administrated questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess factors affecting the use of dental care. In addition, socioeconomic inequality relating to dental care needs and use of dental care were examined using concentration curve and concentration index.

In this study, unmet dental care need was 62.7%. There was a perceived need for dental care among 13.7% (n = 145) of the participants in the past month, with only 39.3% (n = 57) seeking the care. The most important reasons for unmet dental care need were “Could not afford the cost” and “Insurance did not cover the costs.” Multivariate logistic regression showed that supplementary insurance status and household economic status were identified as main determinants affecting dental care-seeking behavior. The result of concentration index revealed that seeking dental care was more concentrated among the rich, whereas the perceived dental care need is more prevalent among the poor.

This study demonstrated that the prevalence of unmet dental care needs is high in the study setting. Also, financial barrier was identified as the main determinant of unmet dental care needs.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of cosmetic surgery and its relationship with the level of mental health and socioeconomic variables in Sulaymaniyah city in Iraq.

This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted on 941 subjects who were selected using multistage sampling method. Data were collected using a checklist as well as a questionnaire. Data analysis was done using chi-square test and multiple logistic regression model using Stata software version 20.

The prevalence of cosmetic surgery was 13.4% (female: 17.5%; male: 8.2%). The most common types of cosmetic surgery were rhinoplasty (7.6%) in women and hair transplant (5.5%) in men. Overall, rhinoplasty (7.6%) was the most common type of cosmetic surgery among both groups. In total, the prevalence of having symptoms of mental disorders was 34.5% and it was significantly higher among people with a history of cosmetic surgery (65.1%) than those without any experience of having cosmetic surgery (29.8%) (p < 0.001). Being female (odds ratio [OR] = 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–3.22), having mild symptoms of mental disorders (OR = 2.76; 95% CI: 1.71–4.47) and having moderate or severe symptoms of mental disorders (OR = 7.48; 95% CI: 4.60–12.29) were among the important variables that could affect performing cosmetic surgery.

The prevalence of cosmetic surgery in Sulaymaniyah is high, and based on the findings of this study, gender and mental health status are effective factors in this regard. Designing targeted interventions is suggested with an emphasis on the findings of this study to reduce the rate of cosmetic surgeries.