A Sociological Study of the Relationship Between Development, Social Inequality, and Poverty With an Emphasis on Access to Healthcare Services (Case Study: Tehran)

Abstract

Poverty has been a persistent issue across various countries for many years. Despite economic growth in underdeveloped or developing countries, poverty continues to prevail. One of the critical social factors directly and indirectly influenced by the trajectory of economic development includes the state of education, healthcare, employment, poverty, and income of individuals in a society. Considering the significance of development levels in different areas of Tehran in recent years and identifying which indicators of social inequality and poverty are more closely related to the issue of development in these areas, this research was conducted with the objective of determining the relationship between the degree of development in Tehran's regions and citizens' access to healthcare services. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The qualitative part used inductive analysis and semi-structured interviews with experts through the Delphi method. The quantitative part involved a statistical population of various Tehran residents, selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using documentary and field methods (questionnaires) and were subsequently analyzed. The results indicate that from a sociological perspective, there is a relationship between development, social inequality, and poverty in Tehran. Regions with higher levels of development provide better access to healthcare services.