Access to healthcare services among students with disabilities in Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate access to healthcare services among students with disabilities (SWDs) in Ghana. Specifically, the study sought to examine accessibility to physical structures of healthcare facilities to students with disabilities, examine the attitude of healthcare providers to SWDs, availability of support services for SWDs in the healthcare facilities and how healthcare service bills are funded by SWDs. I employed qualitative research design dwelling on the phenomenological approach for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 54 participants, which comprises 29 SWDs from the three special schools, 17 healthcare providers (nurses and doctors) and 8 school-mothers for the study. Interview guide was used for data collection. The interview data were transcribed, coded and analysed thematically. The study revealed further that the physical structures of healthcare facilities, inadequate healthcare facilities and financial accessibility were problematic to SWDs in accessing healthcare services in Ghana. The study revealed that the attitudes of healthcare providers towards SWDs were good. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to the Ministries of Health and Housing to revisit existing building regulations and policies to redesign buildings to ensure more disability friendly healthcare structures that will be accessible to SWDs.