Predictive Factors of Health Problems Among Iranian Pilgrims During the Arbaeen Ceremony: An Online Survey Analysis

Abstract

Background: Mass gatherings affect participants’ health. Biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors influence the health of mass-gathering participants. Objectives: This study aimed to identify predictors of health problems among Arbaeen pilgrims in 2023. Methods: This online cross-sectional study was conducted in fall 2023 among Arbaeen pilgrims. A total of 461 participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods. Participants completed a demographic form, including information on the type of health problems experienced while traveling to and returning from Arbaeen, the General Health Questionnaire, and the Perceived Physical Fitness Scale (PPFS). Data were analyzed using Stata 13 and logistic regression. Results: More than half of the pilgrims reported experiencing a health problem. The most prevalent health problems among pilgrims were sunburn and skin blisters, weakness and headache, and muscle spasm and trauma. The type of transportation vehicle, departure border, and trip duration significantly predicted health problems among Arbaeen pilgrims on the way to Arbaeen (P < 0.05). On the return trip to Iran, age, previous cardiovascular and respiratory illness, past drug history, and general health condition predicted health problems among pilgrims. Conclusions: Several personal, environmental, and travel-related characteristics predicted the occurrence of health problems among pilgrims. Multimodal interventions targeting personal preparedness, mass-gathering location, and transportation type are needed to reduce the occurrence of health problems in pilgrims.