Browsing by Author "Phuntsho, T."

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    Accessibility challenges for the disabled community accessing public health care services and disability care institutions in Ragama Medical Officer of Health area
    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Pathirage, C.K.; Padmasiri, U.G.M.; Nuvvarapakshage, N.S.R.P.; Panditharatne, W.D.; Hewawardhane, S.N.; Phuntsho, T.; Perera, K.M.N.
    Introduction: Ragama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area is a developing center for the disabled with the National Rehabilitation Hospital and the specialized disability care institution targeting children. It also hosts the main teaching hospital in the district and a school for disabled children. Visual, walking and audibility impairments account for the highest number of disabled individuals in the country. Ragama MOH area is a developing hub for all these communities. Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe access-related challenges for the disabled community accessing public health care services and disability care institutions in Ragama MOH area. Methods: This is the qualitative study component of a larger study which also quantitatively assessed the compliance of the settings using an observational checklist. This component focused on the qualitative evaluation of accessibility-related challenges. Independent research team members interviewed 15 service providers, disabled and community stakeholders sampled purposively using semi-structured questionnaires. Data was analysed using thematic analysis method. Results: Financial constraints were identified as the main constraint for development of accessibility. “Dependence”, “gaps in awareness” and “negative attitudes” in order of perceived importance, revealed to hinder empowerment of the disabled on demanding for better access. Prioritisation of one disability was identified as a significant determinant for reduced access for individuals with multiple disabilities. Service providers were perceived to have the greatest power to address the challenges in their respective settings. Conclusions: Empowering clients to demand for improvement of accessibility and engaging primary service providers in development processes will lead to improvement of the existent challenges.
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    Accessibility to disability-care institutions and public health services in Ragama Medical Officer of Health Area
    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Pathirage, C.K.; Padmasiri, U.G.M.; Nuwarapakshage, N.S.R.P.; Panditharatne, W.D.; Hewawardhane, S.N.; Phuntsho, T.; Perera, K.M.N.
    Introduction: Ragama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area is a developing centre for the disabled with the National Rehabilitation Hospital and the specialized disability care institution targeting children. It also hosts the main teaching hospital in the district and a school for disabled children. Objectives: The objective was to describe compliance of identified settings related to disability health services in the Ragama MOH Area with current accessibility regulations. Methods: This is the quantitative component of a larger study which explored accessibility challenges and perceptions of service providers and the clients as well. This component assessed identified 16 settings including all disability care institutions, public health care services and selected access-points in Ragama MOH area using an observational checklist based on ‘disabled persons’ accessibility regulations act no. 1, 2006’. Photographic documentation of accessibility was performed. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics based on a score of 1 for complete compliance and 0 for non-compliance. Results: Accessibility for visually impaired and signage for the disabled reported the lowest compliance with a score of 0% across all assessed settings. Highest compliance was observed related to pathways and corridors which scored 93.3%. Specific shortcomings and strongholds of accessibility in each institution were identified. Only one institution specializing in children with disabilities displayed a total compliance of 61.11%. The road network accessing the institutions portrayed less than 5% compliance with the recommended standards. Conclusions: Failure to meet accessibility regulations as expected in a developing hub such as Ragama MOH area emphasizes the need for greater attention to disabled accessibility in the country.