A social network analysis on immigrants and refugees access to services in the malaria elimination context

BACKGROUND: There has been significant progress in eliminating malaria in Iran. The aim of this study is to investigate the structure of inter-organizational collaboration networks in the field of unauthorized immigrants and refugees access to services in order to eliminate malaria. METHODS: This study employed social network analysis, in which nodes represented stakeholders associated with providing access of immigrants and refugees to services in the field of malaria elimination, and ties indicated the level of collaboration. This study adopted socio-centric analysis and the whole network was studied. In this regard, 12 districts of the malaria-endemic area in Iran were selected. Participants included 360 individuals (30 representatives of the organization/group in each district). The data were gathered by interview, using the levels of collaboration scale. UCINET 6 was used for data analysis. The indices of density, centralization, reciprocity, and clustering were investigated for each twelve network and at each level of collaboration. RESULTS: The average density of the networks was 0.22 (SD: 0.04). In districts with a high incidence of imported malaria, the values of network density and centralization were high and the networks comprised of a larger connected component (less isolated clusters). There were significant correlations between density of network (r = 0.66, P = 0.02), degree centralization (r = 0.65, P = 0.02), betweenness centralization (r = 0.76, P = 0.004), and imported malaria cases. In general, the degree centrality and betweenness centrality of the organizations of health, district governor, and foreign immigrants’ affairs were higher. In all networks, 60% of the relationships were bilateral. At a higher level of collaboration, the centralization declined and reciprocity increased. The average of betweenness centralization index was 22.76 (SD = 3.88). CONCLUSIONS: Higher values of network indices in border districts and districts with more cases of imported malaria, in terms of density and centralization measures, can propose the hypothesis that higher preparedness against the issue and centralization of power can enable a better top-down outbreak management, which needs further investigations. Higher centrality of governmental organizations indicates the need for involving private, non-governmental organizations and representatives of immigrant and refugee groups. Recognition of the existing network structure can help the authorities increase access to malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services among immigrants and refugees. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2635-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.