Exploring Barriers to Health Care of People Living with Disabilities in Anambra State, Nigeria

Existing evidence show that 80% of People Living with Disabilities (PLD) live in developing countries including Nigeria where more than 22 million citizens are estimated to be disabled. The high estimate of disabilities in the country is attributable to endemic preventable diseases, inadequate immunization coverage, as well as poor maternal and neo-natal care in the country. Although health care is a human right, access barriers to health care remains one of the major challenges among people with disabilities in Nigeria. However, there are no known studies on access barriers to health care among people with disabilities in the country. This partly explains the gaps in policy and implementation of appropriate interventions for people with disabilities in Nigeria. This study is therefore aimed at exploring the barriers to health care among people with disabilities in Nigeria focusing on Anambra state. This cross –sectional survey design utilized quantitative data collection instrument and multi-stage sampling technique. The sample size was 525 people living with disabilities using Cochran’s sample size formula. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data and in testing the study hypotheses. Logistic regression was used to predict the effects of the variables in the study. The findings show among others that people with disabilities face barriers to health care including physical, medical equipment, and communication. There is thus an urgent need for a comprehensive disability law in Nigeria to target access to health care delivery amongst people living with disabilities in the country.