Abstract
BackgroundIn Uganda 13% of persons have at least one form of disability. The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guarantees persons with disabilities the same level of right to access quality and affordable healthcare as persons without disability. Understanding the needs of women with walking disabilities is key in formulating flexible, acceptable and responsive health systems to their needs and hence to improve their access to care. This study therefore explores the maternal and newborn health (MNH)-related needs of women with walking disabilities in Kibuku District Uganda.MethodsWe carried out a qualitative study in September 2017 in three sub-counties of Kibuku district. Four In-depth Interviews (IDIs) among purposively selected women who had walking disabilities and who had given birth within two years from the study date were conducted. Trained research assistants used a pretested IDI guide translated into the local language to collect data. All IDIs were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim before analysis. The thematic areas explored during analysis included psychosocial, mobility, health facility and personal needs of women with walking disabilities. Data was analyzed manually using framework analysis.ResultsWe found that women with walking disabilities had psychosocial, mobility, special services and personal needs.Psychosocial needs included; partners’, communities’, families’ and health workers’ acceptance. Mobility needs were associated with transport unsuitability, difficulty in finding transport and high cost of transport. Health facility needs included; infrastructure, and responsive health services needs while personal MNH needs were; personal protective wear, basic needs and birth preparedness items.ConclusionsWomen with walking disabilities have needs addressable by their communities and the health system. Communities, and health workers need to be sensitized on these needs and policies to meet and implement health system-related needs of women with disability.
Highlights
In Uganda 13% of persons have at least one form of disability
Design and study area We carried out a cross sectional qualitative study in September 2017 using In-depth Interviews (IDIs) to explore the maternal and newborn health experiences of with walking disabilities (WWD) who had given birth between September 2015 and September 2017
WWD were selected as the study participations because studies have shown that they are often marginalized and do not access maternal and newborn health services [9], [17]
Summary
Design and study area We carried out a cross sectional qualitative study in September 2017 using In-depth Interviews (IDIs) to explore the maternal and newborn health experiences of WWD who had given birth between September 2015 and September 2017. This study was carried out in 3 sub-counties (Kibuku town council, Kibuku rural, and Goligoli) as it was part of a larger study to inform a community scorecard intervention. Selection of study participants and data collection We conducted 4 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with purposively selected participants in the sub-counties of Kadama, Kibuku rural, and Goligoli. Analysis and ethical consideration The research assistants transcribed the IDIs verbatim taking care not to alter meaning since the interviews were in the local language. We restricted data access to only the investigators and the two research assistants
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