Afrah Hafeez

Ms. Afrah Hafeez


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 September 2025 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AKAsifa Kamal
Asifa Kamal
Gulzar Hussain ShahGulzar Hussain Shah
Gulzar Hussain Shah
AHAfrah Hafeez
Afrah Hafeez
MSMaryam Siddiqa
Maryam Siddiqa
COCharles Owens
Charles Owens
Healthcare access is a fundamental human right, yet barriers often negatively impact health, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, where maternal mortality remains a crisis. This study aimed to identify factors influencing healthcare access barriers among married women aged 15–49 years using spatial analysis. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2017-18 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), which included an unweighted sample of 8127 women. Healthcare access barriers were identified as the outcome variable. Results: A spatial analysis using ArcGIS 10.7.1 and SaTScan identified clustered distributions, with concentration areas identified in Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Punjab, and Balochistan. SaTScan highlighted primary clusters in FATA, Southern KPK, Northern Balochistan, and Eastern Punjab. Geographically Weighted Regression identified women who had five or more living children, respondents who did not have four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits, respondents who experienced a lower income (wealth index), respondents who did not participate in decision-making, respondents with a primary education, and respondents who accepted domestic violence as the significant predictors of healthcare access barriers. Conclusions: To improve women’s healthcare access, integrated policy interventions are needed, addressing socioeconomic disparities, strengthening national health policies, empowering women, and expanding healthcare accessibility. Strengthening health insurance and economic empowerment is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.