Consumers' recommendations for improving access to healthcare services to adolescents with disabilities in Ghana.

Abstract

Introduction: In Ghana, Adolescents with mobility and visual impairments and their families, encounter healthcare disparities, including socio-economic, physical, structural and attitudinal challenges, compared to the general population. Nonetheless, there is limited motivation to understand how to improve healthcare access for these marginalized consumers (i.e., adolescents with disabilities and their families). Consequently, the study explored marginalized consumers' recommendations for improving access to healthcare services, described in Ghana's Act 715. Informed by the qualitative descriptive design, forty-five (45) participants were purposively recruited and interviewed, adopting a semi-structured interview guide. Data gathered were subjected to content analysis and interpreted via lenses of the theory of dimensions of healthcare access.

Results: The study's findings were layered within areas of improving policy-practice interphase. Consumers called on policy makers to restructure the NHIS to cover indirect costs of accessing healthcare services for adolescents with disabilities. In respect of improving practice, it was also suggested that training and education on disability phenomenon must be extended to all cadres of healthcare workers including administrative staff, who provided services to this marginalized social unit. Participants further recommended enhancing the availability of healthcare workers and services as well as ensuring respect and protection of human rights within healthcare facilities.