CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN ENUGU STATE: PERSPECTIVES FROM PARENTS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Children with disabilities, primary healthcare, healthcare access, parents, disability, Enugu State, Nigeria, universal health coverage
Abstract
Background: Access to healthcare is an important determinant of health and wellbeing, but children with disabilities may encounter multiple and interrelated barriers when seeking healthcare. These barriers may involve communication, transportation, physical accessibility, availability of appropriate healthcare personnel and equipment, affordability, and negative attitudes towards disability.
Objective: To explore the challenges encountered by parents in accessing primary healthcare for children with disabilities in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Methods: A phenomenological qualitative research design was adopted. Five parents of children with disabilities were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling from selected special schools with boarding facilities in Enugu State. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews and analysed thematically. The broader study involved 56 participants, including special-school staff, parents, healthcare providers and healthcare-agency staff.
Results: Parents reported challenges related to communication, transportation and movement to and within healthcare facilities, inaccessible medical equipment, availability of healthcare personnel and services, payment for healthcare services and medications, inadequate health-insurance support, and discrimination and stigmatization. Communication difficulties were particularly important because parents often served as intermediaries between their children and healthcare professionals. Transportation was complicated by the need to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility requirements. Within healthcare facilities, parents reported difficulties accessing examination rooms, toilets, diagnostic areas and examination equipment. Financial challenges resulted in substantial out-of-pocket expenditure, while negative attitudes were reported in public places, healthcare facilities and within families.
Conclusion: Parents of children with disabilities encounter multidimensional barriers to primary healthcare access in Enugu State. These barriers are interconnected and may prevent children from receiving timely, appropriate and equitable healthcare. Strengthening disability-inclusive primary healthcare requires improved communication support, accessible transportation and infrastructure, appropriate medical equipment, adequate healthcare personnel, financial protection and effective implementation of disability-related policies.
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