Disability and access to health care - a community based descriptive study

Purpose: The World Disability Report highlighted the need for adequate access to health and medical rehabilitation services for those with disability. Participants in a large community based survey in a low-income area were asked questions relating to their use of health related services. Method: Using random, cluster sampling a representative sample of 1083 households in a deprived area of Cape Town were approached and 152 people with disability were interviewed. Results: Those with disability were more likely to be male (chi(2) = 4.24, p = 0.03) and unemployed (chi(2) = 66.89, p > 0.001) compared to those without disability. The percentages reporting unmet needs were respectively: 54% for home-based care; 34.5% for assistive devices, 28.9% for medical rehabilitation services; and 2.5% for health services. Those over 65 years of age were less likely to have had the medical rehabilitation that they required (chi(2) = 8.00, p = 0.018). There were fewer respondents with sensory and language disorders but these groups reported proportionately more unmet needs. The main problems with accessing services included inadequate finances (71%) and transport problems (72%). Conclusion: It is recommended that all efforts be expended to extend appropriate rehabilitation services, including home based-care and appliances to those identified as having disability, particularly to those older than 65 years. In addition, the services need to be affordable and accessible in terms of suitable transport, particularly in the light of the high unemployment rate and the large number of respondents with mobility problems.