Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
2
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
3
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Aras International Campus, Tabriz, Iran.
10.22034/gp.2025.66565.3383
Abstract
This study examines how urban political ecology shaped by power dynamics, socio-economic disparities, and political-ecological processes influences the unequal distribution of healthcare infrastructure in Tabriz, Iran. Using a quantitative approach and multiple linear regression, data from urban plans, census records, and municipal statistics were analyzed to assess the impact of variables like poverty, informal settlements, infrastructural security, and housing costs on per capita healthcare access. Results reveal stark spatial inequalities: central and northern neighborhoods, characterized by higher housing prices (β=0.05), host over four times more medical facilities than underserved southern/peripheral areas. Political-ecological factors explained 72% of healthcare access disparities, with poverty (β=-0.30), informal settlements (β=-0.21), and weak infrastructure (β=-0.24) significantly reducing access. Spatial analysis (Moran’s index) confirmed clustering of services in affluent zones, reflecting systemic neglect of marginalized communities driven by neoliberal policies and urban centralization. The study underscores spatial injustice in urban planning, where disadvantaged neighborhoods face compounded barriers to healthcare due to socio-political exclusion. Recommendations include redistributing medical resources to peripheral areas, prioritizing marginalized groups in decision-making, and increasing public investment to counteract privatization trends. By linking structural inequities to healthcare gaps, the research highlights the need for equity-focused urban policies, offering insights applicable to cities grappling with similar political-ecological challenges globally.
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