Barriers to Health Care Access and Quality of life Assessment AmongPeople with Disabilities in Makurdi, Benue State: ImprovingHealthcare Access.
Keywords:
Barriers, Healthcare, Accessibility, People With Disability, Quality of Life, WHOQOL-BREFAbstract
People with Disabilities (PWD) continue to face significant barriers to accessing quality healthcare, which negatively
impacts their quality of life (QoL). This study explored these barriers and assessed QoL among PWD during a medical
outreach held on World Family Doctor Day 2023 at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Nigeria. Seventy consenting
participants were recruited consecutively and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using
SPSS version 23, with significance set at P<0.05. The majority of respondents were aged 21–40 years (67.1%), male
(51.4%), and married (54.3%). Mobility impairment was the most common disability (37.1%). Key barriers identified
included the lack of disability-friendly transportation (35.5%), absence of ramps in healthcare facilities (27.9%), lack of
communication assistance (40.3%), and poor interaction with healthcare providers (31.3%). Over half (51.2%) reported
the unavailability of assistive devices, and 30.6% found hospital beds uncomfortable. More than half of the participants
(52.9%) had poor QoL. Factors significantly associated with poor QoL were being female, residing outside Makurdi,
having a chronic health condition, current use of medication, and infrequent healthcare visits.These findings highlight the
urgent need for inclusive healthcare planning that addresses both structural and interpersonal barriers faced by PWD.
Improving physical accessibility, enhancing provider communication skills, and ensuring availability of assistive
technologies can significantly improve QoL. Policymakers and health system stakeholders must prioritize disability-
friendly services and routinely engage PWD in healthcare program design to foster equity and improve health outcomes.
Keywords: Barriers, Healthcare, Accessibility, People With Disability, Quality of Life, WHOQOL-BREF.
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