Access to health care for persons with disabilities in Madwaleni, Eastern Cape, South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Global research suggests that persons with disabilities face barriers when accessing health care services. Yet, information regarding the nature of these barriers, especially in low-income and middle-income countries is sparse. Rural contexts in these countries may present greater barriers than urban contexts, but little is known about access issues in such contexts. There is a paucity of research in South Africa looking at 'triple vulnerability – poverty, disability and rurality. The current study provides a local case study of these issues with the aim of informing future interventions to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.This study explores the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in day-to-day living and in accessing health care in Madwaleni, a poor rural isiXhosa-speaking community in South Africa. The study includes a quantitative survey with interviews with 773 participants in 527 households. Comparisons between persons with disabilities and persons with no disabilities were explored.Results suggest that persons with disabilities in Madwaleni generally experience more problems in terms of daily living as well as health issues (including access to health care) compared to persons with no disabilities. In terms of access to health care there were primarily three types of barriers – physical barriers, attitudinal barriers and communication barriers – for persons with disabilities in Madwaleni. Persons without disabilities living in households with persons with disabilities did not, however, experience more barriers to health care than did those in households without disabilities.Implications and recommendations for the future are discussed in order to make some concrete and practical solutions in the area of disability in Madwaleni.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University