Situational Analysis of Healthcare Delivery and User Perspectives of Mobile Diagnostics (mDiagnostics) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: A Mixed-Method Study

Introduction Situational analysis of exciting infrastructure including mobile health services is crucial for comprehensive healthcare delivery. The concept of mDiagnostics has gained traction as it addresses the challenges of accessibility, affordability, and availability of healthcare services in remote regions. Purpose The study was to do a situational analysis of the availability of medical diagnostic facilities and identify the challenges and barriers faced in the implementation and utilisation of mDiagnostics. Material and methods The present study was a mixed mixed-method study conducted in rural and urban areas of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 1,489 households were included. Situational analysis of existing healthcare facilities and the availability of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers for study participants in both urban and rural areas was assessed. In-depth interviews on user perspective, affordability, awareness of existing health services, and perception of the utility of mobile lab services and focus group discussions with healthcare professionals, community members, and key stakeholders were carried out. Thematic analysis for qualitative data, proportion, and means were calculated for the quantitative component. Result Out of 1,489 households included, 711 were from rural areas, and 778 were from urban areas. The distance traveled from their residence to both the lab and health facility was less than 5 km in urban areas, while it is more than 5 km in rural areas. The mean expenditure in availing healthcare services is above five thousand rupees per annum in nearly half of the rural households (46%) and 60% of urban. The analyses of interviews explored the availability, acceptability, and affordability under seven thematic areas for situational analysis of healthcare facilities, and a focused group discussion was held to explore the community member’s barrier to healthcare services. Conclusion The study reveals a comprehensive understanding of healthcare delivery access disparities between rural and urban areas in Tamil Nadu. The findings highlighted the potential benefits of mobile lab initiatives in improving healthcare access and early disease detection in underserved rural communities.