Improving Access of the Physically Disabled to Health Services in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the factors that determine the physically disabled access to health Services in Tamale, Ghana. The study focused on the physically disabled persons who have crippling conditions and are aged 15-60 years. A sample size of 165 is used and the study design is cross sectional. The physically disabled were selected from three institutions, Ghana Society of the physically disabled, Tamale Rehabilitation centre and the six sub-districts demarcations of Tamale Metropolis. The data collection techniques were interviews, structured questionnaire and the use of secondary information. A conceptual framework is drawn indicating the independent variable and the dependent variables, the study revealed that, employment, belief systems, education, nature of health facilities, income, service cost and transport cost are the main determinants of the disabled person’s access to health care in Tamale. The disability Bill (Act715) was passed in Ghana in 2006 but it has not yet been implemented, the result revealed that, disabled persons in Tamale rely on family members and benevolent individuals for support when accessing health care. There is no significant difference in the mode of accessing health care between able- persons and the physically disabled, differences exist only in relations to both enabling and restrictive factors. Policy initiatives to assist address the disparities in accessing healthcare have been made.

Keywords: Physically disabled, Access to health, Enabling factors, Restrictive factors and Disability bill.