Physical barriers in access to public reproductive healthcare services of women with physical disabilities in Vietnam.

Abstract

The Vietnamese government has made significant efforts to improve healthcare access for people with disabilities, as shown by signing the UNCRPD in 2007, ratifying it in 2015, and implementing the 2010 Disability Law to signal a commitment to the rights of people with disabilities. However, women with physical disabilities still encounter many obstacles. Physical barriers to accessing healthcare services for these women are underexplored. This paper investigates the physical infrastructure and the material barriers to accessing healthcare services for women with physical disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, through ethnographic research methods. Data were collected via semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 women with physical disabilities, observation, and photovoice. Research findings revealed that women with physical disabilities faced multiple physical barriers when accessing public healthcare services in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Outdoor barriers included transportation and parking, while indoor barriers involved toilets, ramps, lifts, spare wheelchairs, counters, and waiting rooms. These barriers significantly affected participants' healthcare decision-making and their ability to maintain health. The research highlights the need for inclusive strategies to improve healthcare access for Vietnamese people with disabilities.