The Impact of War on Access to Specialist Care for Patients with Chronic Diseases in Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Even though the effects of war on health systems are well understood, little is known about the precise linkages between chronic illnesses and continuous violence in Sudan, particularly in terms of access to specialized care. More emphasis must be placed on how conflict-exacerbated structural flaws in the healthcare system affect patient outcomes and chronic illness management, which are now largely disregarded. Method: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to December 2024. A total of 200 individuals from Dongola and Shendi in Sudan participated in this study. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS 27. Results: There were 200 people in all; women (69.5%) outnumbered men (30.5%; the most often occurring age range was 55+ years (32%). Most respondents—84.5%—were relocated from Khartoum; 73% live in Dongola and 77% live in displacement camps. The most often used educational level was high school (39%), followed by housewife level at 44.5%. With 50% of patients receiving treatment weekly, the most common chronic illnesses were diabetes mellitus (34%), and hypertension (48.5%). For 83% of responders, war compromised healthcare access; 74.5% experienced treatment disruptions. High treatment expenses (79.5%), shortage of medical professionals (32%), and security issues (31%), were the biggest obstacles. Key recommendations for development were medical supplies (66.5%), health organization collaboration (63%), and medical staff (49.5%). Conclusion: Overall, this study concludes that despite the difficult living situation in Sudan due to the war, the majority of patients showed positive feedback regarding their follow up and receiving the healthcare they need. Nevertheless, the majority revealed that the ongoing war affected their access to healthcare. Barriers such as high cost of treatment, and lack of medical staff or specialist should be addressed and improved.