Burden and health-system challenges of diabetes mellitus in urban slum populations of Iran: a scoping review.
The diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide. Urban slum populations may face heightened vulnerability because of poverty, overcrowding, food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare. This scoping review mapped the available evidence on diabetes burden, determinants, interventions, healthcare utilization, and health-system challenges among people living in Iranian urban slums.
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, the Scientific Information Database (SID), and Magiran were searched without date or language restrictions. Peer-reviewed observational, qualitative, and interventional studies addressing diabetes in Iranian urban slums were eligible. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, quality appraisal, and data extraction.
Seven studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included: five cross-sectional studies, one community-based intervention, and one qualitative study. Two studies reported diabetes prevalence data in Rasht and Tabriz. One Interventional study in Yasouj and four study on health service utilization conducted in Tabriz. The mapped evidence identified financial, insurance, organizational, educational, and infrastructural barriers to diabetes care, as well as substantial unmet needs for medication support, glucose-monitoring supplies, self-management education, and communication with healthcare providers.
The available evidence suggests important diabetes-related care needs in the studied urban slum populations, but its limited geographical coverage and heterogeneous outcomes prevent national generalization. Broader studies are needed to quantify inequalities in awareness, treatment, complications, and service accessibility. Meanwhile, strengthening primary healthcare, insurance protection, and equity-oriented urban health policies may improve diabetes care in marginalized communities.
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, the Scientific Information Database (SID), and Magiran were searched without date or language restrictions. Peer-reviewed observational, qualitative, and interventional studies addressing diabetes in Iranian urban slums were eligible. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, quality appraisal, and data extraction.
Seven studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included: five cross-sectional studies, one community-based intervention, and one qualitative study. Two studies reported diabetes prevalence data in Rasht and Tabriz. One Interventional study in Yasouj and four study on health service utilization conducted in Tabriz. The mapped evidence identified financial, insurance, organizational, educational, and infrastructural barriers to diabetes care, as well as substantial unmet needs for medication support, glucose-monitoring supplies, self-management education, and communication with healthcare providers.
The available evidence suggests important diabetes-related care needs in the studied urban slum populations, but its limited geographical coverage and heterogeneous outcomes prevent national generalization. Broader studies are needed to quantify inequalities in awareness, treatment, complications, and service accessibility. Meanwhile, strengthening primary healthcare, insurance protection, and equity-oriented urban health policies may improve diabetes care in marginalized communities.