Barriers and facilitators to healthcare access for people with intellectual disability (PWIDS) in the Ashanti region of Ghana
Loading...
Date
NOVEMBER, 2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
People with intellectual disabilities are at higher risk of developing preventable
diseases due to challenges they encounter in accessing healthcare. Such challenges
have led to shorter life expectancy than the general public. The aim of this study was
to assess the barriers and facilitators that influence access to healthcare services for
People with Intellectual Disability (PWIDs) in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
This study was qualitative and used purposive sampling to select participants from
two Intellectually Disabled Schools namely, Garden City and Life Community and
Vocational School in the Asokore Mampong and Oforikrom Districts respectively.
Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions
and unstructured observation.
Findings showed that specific health needs of PWIDs included chest infections,
common cold, sensory challenges and stomach infections among others. Challenges
they encountered in accessing health included, among others, high cost of medication
and the inability of healthcare providers to communicate effectively with PWIDs. It
however emerged that the introduction of sign language in various health training
institutions has contributed to positively shaping the attitude of some healthcare
providers towards issues of disability and has served as a major factor that has
enhanced access to health for PWIDs.
The study recommends the need for some of the medications prescribed for PWIDS to
be covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme. It also recommends continuous
training of healthcare providers about issues of disability, especially those with2
intellectual disability as this has the potential to promote the socio-environmental
understanding of disability and health care.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Philosophy (MPHIL) in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development.
Keywords
Barriers, Facilitators, Healthcare access, Intellectual disability, Ashanti Region, Ghana