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Published on: September 30, 2020
Accessibility to health services by persons with disabilities
Shamyr Sulyvan Castro1, Fernando Lefèvre, Ana Maria Cavalcanti Lefèvre
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brasil. shamyrsulyvan@gmail.com
Revista De Saude Publica
|November 5, 2010
Summary
Persons with disabilities face significant barriers accessing health services, including transportation challenges and inadequate facilities. These accessibility issues in healthcare hinder equitable access, impacting the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Disability Studies
- Healthcare Accessibility
Background:
- Healthcare accessibility is a fundamental right, yet persons with disabilities often encounter systemic barriers.
- The principle of equity in healthcare is challenged by the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific difficulties persons with disabilities encounter when accessing health services.
- To analyze transportation and physical accessibility challenges within the healthcare system.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative study involving 25 individuals with diverse disabilities (mobility, visual, auditory impairments).
- Interviews conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on transportation and health service access.
- Collective Subject Discourse methodology employed for data analysis using Qualiquantisoft software.
Main Results:
- Diverse transportation methods and needs were reported by individuals with disabilities.
- Significant accessibility barriers identified, including service delays, parking issues, and lack of essential facilities (ramps, elevators, adapted toilets).
- Shortages of specialized personnel and equipment (wheelchairs) were also noted.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with disabilities utilize varied transportation strategies, often requiring assistance.
- Reported accessibility issues in health services directly contradict the principle of equity in Brazil's Unified Health System.
- Urgent improvements are needed to ensure equitable healthcare access for persons with disabilities.
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