Utilisation and Satisfaction with Health Services among Persons with Disabilities in Accra, Ghana

Purpose: Healthcare, one of mankind’s basic needs, is generally accessible to persons without disability, but people with disabilities are marginalized and stigmatized in developing countries and as such are unable to utilise the health services they require. The health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) talk about good health and well-being, and reducing inequality in societies. In South Africa and Ghana, constitutional provisions and policies have been made for inclusion and reducing inequality among persons with disabilities, but implementation is still in its infancy. The aim of this study is to determine the level of utilisation and satisfaction with health services among persons with disabilities, and to recommend strategies to improve the current situation in the country. Method: A non-interventional, descriptive cross-sectional study was employed, with a quantitative data collection method. A structured questionnaire comprising of both openand closed-ended questions was used for the data collection. A total of 363 respondents were involved in the study – 360 were persons with disabilities, and 3 were key informants. Results: A total of 66.9% persons with disabilities reported being warmly received by health professionals, 23.1% reported encountering a cold attitude, and 5.6% reported being scorned at health facilities. Only 20.5% of persons with disabilities reported frequent visits to health facilities, 42.8% did not visit health facilities frequently, and 36.4% rarely visited a health facility. Moreover 76.4% reported that they made hospital visits for all their ailments. Conclusion: Although health facilities were utilised by few persons with disabilities, the majority of respondents reported that they were well-received Vol. 29, No.1, 2018; doi 10.5463/DCID.v29i1.685