An exploration into the challenges of managing the COVID-19 pandemic in mass education centers in Iran: A qualitative content analysis

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Iran’s mass education centers, which house a large number of trainees, encountered numerous difficulties in managing the disease. Understanding these challenges can help manage future pandemics. This study was conducted to explore the challenges of managing the COVID-19 pandemic in mass education centers in Iran. Methods: In this qualitative study, we used a qualitative content analysis of data collected from June to October 2022 in eight mass education centers in Iran. Semi-structured interviews (n=19) were used for data collection. Results: Four main themes and eleven subthemes were identified: The essence of dormitory life (Subthemes included: "The high population density in the dormitory", "Public toilets" and, Interprovincial travel), the inflexibility of the profession (Subthemes included: "Inapplicable health protocols" and, "Inflexible rules and regulations"), Negligence (Subthemes included: "Not adhering to health protocols", "Non acceptance of illness", and "High-risk taking"), and Weakness of health-care platform (Subthemes included: "shortage of healthcare facilities", "Lack of specialized personnel", and "The uni-dimensional aspect of healthcare services"). Conclusion: We identified several challenges that made the handling of COVID-19 difficult in Iran’s centers for mass education. These findings can help future research in addressing the challenges and designing adaptable plans for pandemic management in mass education centers.