Vergunst, Richard and Swartz, Leslie and Hem, Karl-Gerhard and Eide, Arne H. and Mannan, Hasheem and MacLachlan, Malcolm and Mji, Gubela and Schneider, Maguerite
(2018)
The perceived needs-access gap for health services
among persons with disabilities in a rural area within South Africa.
Disability and Rehabilitation, 41 (22).
pp. 2676-2682.
ISSN 0963-8288
Abstract
Purpose: Health should be a universal phenomenon. However, little is known about the relationship
between disability status and health issues – particularly in rural areas. This study looks at health issues of
persons with disabilities in Madwaleni, a rural impoverished area in South Africa in 2011, and compares
them to persons with no disabilities.
Materials and Methods: Standardized questionnaires were used in the survey to assess disability and
health status. The sample comprised of 773 individuals – 322 persons with disability and 451 comparisons
(without disability) – covering 527 households. Children under the age of five were excluded from the
sample. We used purposive sampling.
Results and Conclusion: This study found that persons with disabilities have poorer reported health outcomes than persons with no disabilities. There is also an association between disability severity and mental health issues as assessed by the GHQ-12. A significantly higher percentage of persons with disability
did not get health care when needed. Persons with disabilities also have less favorable attitudes toward
competence of health care workers. This study has shown greater health needs and less satisfaction with
services, which strongly indicates insufficient access for persons with disabilities in a rural impoverished
are within South Africa.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Rural health; disability;
South Africa; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology |
| Item ID: |
13227 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1478001 |
| Depositing User: |
Malcolm MacLachlan
|
| Date Deposited: |
14 Sep 2020 14:12 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Disability and Rehabilitation |
| Publisher: |
Informa Healthcare |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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