Vergunst, Richard and Swartz, Leslie and Mji, Gubela and MacLachlan, Malcolm and Mannan, Hasheem (2015) ‘You must carry your wheelchair’ – barriers to accessing healthcare in a South African rural area. Global Health Action, 8 (1). p. 29003. ISSN 1654-9716

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Abstract

Background 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. Objective 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. Design Purposive sampling was done with 26 participants, using semi-structured interviews and content analysis to identify major themes. Results 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. Conclusions 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.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	disability; rural; access; health; barriers;
Academic Unit:	Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	16475
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v8.29003
Depositing User:	Malcolm MacLachlan
Date Deposited:	05 Sep 2022 13:08
Journal or Publication Title:	Global Health Action
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
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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