Is accessibility to centers of disability care in the emerging hub for disability healthcare services of the Western Province truly challenging?

Abstract

Background: Ragama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area is a sanctum of disability care hosting the main teaching hospital in the district, National Center for Children with Disabilities, National Rehabilitation Hospital and a school for disabled children. The objectives were to describe compliance of above institutions with current accessibility regulations and access-related challenges for the disabled community. Methods: A mixed-methods study was performed by qualitative evaluation of accessibility-related challenges and quantitative assessment of the aforementioned institutions and access-points. The qualitative component collected data from 6 service providers 4 disabled individuals and 5 community stakeholders sampled purposively by the research team. In-depth interviews used a semi-structured questionnaire guide. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis method. The quantitative component utilized an observational checklist based on 'disabled persons accessibility regulations act no.1, 2006' under the themes of public institutions, road network and access-points and accessibility for the visually impaired. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics allocating a score of 1 for compliance and 0 for non-compliance. Results: Financial constraints were identified as the main challenge along with “Dependence”, “Gaps in awareness” and “Negative attitudes”. The highest level of compliance to the imposed regulations was only 61.1% portrayed by the institution specializing in children with disabilities. Accessibility for the visually impaired showed 0% compliance across all institutions. The public road network failed to exceed a compliance of 5%. Conclusions: Failure to meet anticipated excellence of accessibility in a developing hub such as Ragama MOH area emphasizes on the need for prioritization of disabled accessibility in Sri Lanka.