Assessment of Barriers of Accessing Primary Health Care Services For Persons with Hearing, Visual and Physical Impairments in Gulele Sub City of Addis Ababa
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
People with disabilities are entitled to using health facilities at least as much as the general population if not more. Inadequate health services coupled with the absence of a disability-friendly health care system and social environment in the developing nations make it difficult for persons with disabilities to access basic medical services. The study uses a qualitative research methodology to describe and understand barriers to access health services for persons with visual, hearing and physical disabilities. The study is conducted in Gulele Sub City of Addis Ababa. I found out that there are barriers related to the physical environment, inaccessibility of transportation and health information. The knowledge and attitude of health care providers is also identified as a barrier and poverty as a facilitating factor behind the barriers. Communication with providers was also an issue when it comes to individuals with hearing impairments because they found it hard to communicate their health conditions to providers if they did not have interpreters of their own. Study records that rising to the challenge of providing excellent and accessible health care to persons with impairments is imperative as a matter of equity and recommends health professionals, health administrators and all other concerned to work hard in realizing the rights of this population and avoid the misconceptions on disability and make all services barrier free for persons with disabilities to the greatest extent possible
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Keywords
Barriers; Health services; Persons with disabilities; Access