Abstract
Background: Accessibility enables the effective participation of disabled persons in public and private areas and the use of urban equipment and street furniture. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the physical accessibility of toilet facilities in urban and rural primary health care units. Methods: It was a quantitative descriptive study conducted in 157 Primary Health Care Units of 16 municipalities in the Baturite Massif region, Ceara, Brazil. The study took place from August 2014 to May 2015, with a checklist type form, designed from the Technical Standard 9050 of the Brazilian National Standards Organization, specifying the ideal access conditions established by law to allow mobility of persons with physical disabilities. Data were processed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software and organized into tables. Results: Toilets designed for physically disabled people were accessible as the location and signs (59.9%), identified with symbols for males and females (57.3%); however, the doorway width was smaller than needed to accommodate a wheelchair (77.7%). Inside the bathroom, only the forward approach was possible (59.9%). Grab bars positioned on the side and rear walls were inadequate or nonexistent (67.6%); toilet seats (91.1%) and toilet paper dispensers (96.2%) were mostly in inaccessible heights; flush controls in appropriate height (59.2%) and activated by light pressure (58%). Sinks without pedestal (51%), but higher than recommended (80.3%) and without single handle faucets (95.6%). It was verified that the toilets of basic health units located in urban areas had better accessibility conditions compared to those in rural areas. Conclusion: Results showed that the analyzed units presented physical inaccessibility in some toilet facilities, making it difficult or even impossible the accessibility for the disabled. The inclusion of accessibility features in health services for this clientele provides equal opportunities and social inclusion.
Highlights
Accessibility concerns the physical conditions or the communication elements that enable safe and autonomous participation of people in public and private areas, in the use of urban equipment and street furniture, providing greater social inclusion and better quality of life [1] Ensuring the access of disabled people is an act that respects their freedom of movement, allowing them to use essential public services.It is worth highlighting the difference between access and accessibility
It was a quantitative research of descriptive approach consisting of measurement procedures of the architectural conditions of toilet facilities that compose the physical structure of Primary Health Care Units located in the Baturité Massif region, in the State of Ceará, Brazil
Primary health care is the first occasion of user assistance in the health system, the assistance model should meet the specific needs of various population groups, including disabled people
Summary
Accessibility concerns the physical conditions or the communication elements that enable safe and autonomous participation of people in public and private areas, in the use of urban equipment and street furniture, providing greater social inclusion and better quality of life [1] Ensuring the access of disabled people is an act that respects their freedom of movement, allowing them to use essential public services. It is worth highlighting the difference between access and accessibility. The inclusion of accessibility features in health services for this clientele provides equal opportunities and social inclusion
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