Reproductive health needs among physically challenged persons in the Sunyani West District

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization and World Bank refer to disability as the challenges faced in any or all the three aspects of functioning which are impairment, activity limitation and participation restriction. Impairment concerns difficulties in body function or variations in body structure such as paralysis or blindness while activity limitation is about problems in performing activities like walking, dressing or eating. The third aspect which is participation restriction talks about challenges with participation in any part of life such as discrimination in transportation, education, health service or work. This study is to determine the reproductive health needs among physically challenged persons in the Sunyani west district, Brong Ahafo Region. Methodology: The research adopted qualitative methods of inquiry to answer the research questions. An interview guide was designed to collect the following information on participants, Demographic data, Participants‟ knowledge on their reproductive health needs, Participant‟s major reproductive health needs, Factors contributing to participants‟ reproductive health needs and strategies to help meet physically challenged person‟s reproductive health needs. In-depth interviews were conducted among fifteen respondents whose responses were translated into English language and transcribed for analysis. Results: The research results revealed that, most of the participants did not have enough knowledge on reproductive health needs. It was disclosed that, the physically challenged persons lacked information on some reproductive health needs and services. Also, the research disclosed that, majority of the physically challenged persons had not accessed reproductive health services in or outside health facilities. Thevi participants of the research indicated accessibility, delivery rooms, the nature of the delivery beds and lack of information on reproductive health were their major reproductive health needs facing physically challenged persons in general. They indicated that for those of them who visited the health facility, there was no difficulty in accessing information and services on reproductive health needs in the facilities. Furthermore, the findings showed that the participants believed their reproductive health needs will be improved if the following will be done: if they are given enough health education, elimination of discrimination and rejection, provision of financial support for physically challenged persons, making all health facilities disable friendly and train providers as how to handle persons with disability. Conclusion: Most of the participants have limited understanding of reproductive health needs and that of their own. Lack of enough public education on reproductive health services may have accounted for the physically challenged persons‟ little knowledge on it. The participants suffered some challenges like discrimination by health staff and the general public continues to be a problem for the physically challenged persons. It was agreed by majority of the participants that their association is not doing much to help members have their reproductive health needs met