Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases burden is rising globally; women are disproportionately affected by both non-communicable diseases burden and lack of access to health care. Research on the relationship between access to health care and non-communicable diseases control are limited. We aimed to assess the relationship between women's access to health care and three non-communicable diseases control. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 women diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hypertension and/or Asthma. Access to health care was assessed through pretested validated Arabic version of access 31 questionnaire. The control status of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and asthma was assessed according to the American Diabetes Association HbA1c targets, World Health Organization Guidelines, and the Global Initiative for Asthma control assessment tool, respectively. The associations were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: (83%) of the participants had poor access to health care, of those, (39.0%) achieved non-communicable diseases control, while (16.9%) participants had good access to health care, of them, (83.1%) had their non-communicable diseases controlled. This difference in non-communicable diseases control proportions across access to care groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Women with good access to health care had higher odds (Adjusted Odds Ratio 6.33, 95% confidence interval: 3.24-12.55) of having their non-communicable diseases controlled compared with those with poor access. CONCLUSION: Improving access to health care is essential for achieving better non-communicable diseases control.