Community Health Needs Assessment of Primary Healthcare in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Continuous assessment of community health needs is essential to predict, recognize, and act on healthcare issues. Conducting community health needs assessments (CHNAs) in Saudi Arabia has become a priority to overcome the current healthcare challenges and keep pace with the Saudi Arabia 2030 vision. Studies reporting community health needs in Saudi Arabia regions are limited despite the high incidence of chronic diseases. This study aims to understand the community's health problems and the range of healthy behaviors and determine the priority health problems.

We conducted a cross-sectional study based on the adults in Primary Health Care Centers in Hail, Northern Saudi Arabia, by using the CHNA standard questionnaire. In addition to the demographic information, the questionnaire collects data on personal health status, the health status of adults and children, health facilities access information, receiving of healthcare procedures, traveling for healthcare, source of medical information, safety measures and behaviors, health problems, childcare (special needs), and perceived community problems.

In all, 336 individuals were approached to participate in this study; 303 agreed to participate (response rate: 90%). The analysis comprised 276 individuals after eliminating 27 who did not fulfill the age inclusion criteria or had missing gender data. Of these, 107 (38.8%) were men and 169 (61.2%) were women. Our data revealed that almost half of the participants, 135 (52.9%) constantly or 107 (42%) occasionally, were able to visit the doctors when needed.

Our findings reported positive health behaviors and good accessibility to healthcare services when needed. However, the study findings also revealed healthcare challenges that required urgent action from Hail healthcare leaders. Developing healthcare strategies, screening/prevention programs, and changing healthcare policies in the Hail region are needed to control and prevent health problems and improve the population's health.