'You must carry your wheelchair'--barriers to accessing healthcare in a South African rural area.

Journal: Global health action

Volume: 8

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 2016

Affiliated Institutions:  Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; lswartz@sun.ac.za. Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Abstract summary 

There is international evidence that people with disabilities face barriers when accessing primary healthcare services and that there is inadequate information about effective interventions that work to improve the lives of people with disabilities, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. Poor rural residents generally experience barriers to accessing primary healthcare, and these problems are further exacerbated for people with disabilities.In this study, we explore the challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing healthcare in Madwaleni, a poor rural Xhosa community in South Africa.Purposive sampling was done with 26 participants, using semi-structured interviews and content analysis to identify major themes.This study showed a number of barriers to healthcare for people with disabilities. These included practical barriers, including geographical and staffing issues, and attitudinal barriers.It is suggested that although there are practical barriers that need to be addressed, attitudinal barriers could potentially be addressed more easily and cost effectively.

Authors & Co-authors:  Vergunst Richard R Swartz Leslie L Mji Gubela G MacLachlan Malcolm M Mannan Hasheem H

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Trani JF, Bakhshi P, Noor AA, Lopez D, Mashkoor A. Poverty, vulnerability, and provision of healthcare in Afghanistan. Soc Sci Med. 2010;70:1745–55.
Authors :  5
Identifiers
Doi : 10.3402/gha.v8.29003
SSN : 1654-9880
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
access;barriers;disability;health;rural
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
United States