Financial Access to Healthcare among Persons with Disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

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Financial Access to Healthcare among Persons with
Disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana
Eric Badu1*
, Maxwell Peprah Opoku1
, Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah2
,
Elvis Agyei-Okyere3
1. MSc Disability, Rehabilitation and Development, Department of Community Health, Centre for Disability and
Rehabilitation Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
2. MPhil Sociology (Student), Department of Sociology and Social Work, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
3. MSc Development Planning and Management, Department of Planning, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
* Corresponding Author: Eric Badu, Department of Community Health, Centre for Disability and
Rehabilitation Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
Email: badu3eric@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Purpose: According to the World Health Organisation, 10% to 15% of the
population of every developing country lives with disability. This amounts to
about 2.4 - 3.6 million Ghanaians with disability. Since their contribution is
important for the development of the country, this study aimed to assess the
financial access to healthcare among persons with disabilities in the Kumasi
Metropolis of Ghana.
Methods: A cross-sectional study, involving administration of a semi-
structured questionnaire, was conducted among persons with all kinds of
disabilities (physically challenged, hearing and visually impaired) in the Kumasi
Metropolis. Multi-stage sampling was used to randomly select 255 persons
with disabilities from 5 clusters of communities - Oforikrom, Subin, Asewase,
Tafo and Asokwa. Data analysis involved descriptive and analytical statistics at
95% CI using SPSS software version 20.
Results: There were more male than female participants, nearly one-third
of them had no formal education and 28.6% were unemployed. The average
monthly expenditure on healthcare was GHC 21.46 (USD 6.0) which constituted
9.8% of the respondents’ income. Factors such as age, gender, disability type,
education, employment, and whether or not they stayed with family members
had significant bearing on the average monthly expenses on healthcare (p<0.05).
Transportation cost, the travel distance to facilities, and the regular sources of
payment for healthcare, had significant relationship with access to healthcare
(p<0.05). Although about 63.5% of the respondents used the National Health
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Insurance Scheme as the regular source of payment for healthcare, 94.1%
reported that sources of payment did not cover all their expenses and equipment.
Conclusion: Financial access to healthcare remains a major challenge for
persons with disabilities. Measures to finance all healthcare expenses of persons
with disabilities are urgently needed to improve their acc ess to healthcare.
Key words: persons with disabilities, financial access, Kumasi Metropolis
INTRODUCTION
In every society persons with disabilities seem to have lower incomes, complex
health conditions and limited access to healthcare. Worldwide, 52% of persons
with disabilities lack access to healthcare due to their inability to afford the
visit, as compared to 32.8% of the population without disability (World Health
Organisation, 2011). Therefore, financing healthcare for persons with disabilities
receives much attention in international regulations and policies. For instance,
the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (2006)
recognises the demand for accessibility as a way of creating equal opportunities
for persons with disabilities in all aspects of life, including financial access to
healthcare. The World Report on Disability also emphasises the need to ensure
that persons with disabilities get the same variety, quality, and standard of free
and affordable healthcare as the population without disability (WHO, 2011). In
Ghana, section 31 of the Disability Act 2006 mandates the formulation of polices
to provide “free general and specialist medical care, rehabilitative operation
treatmentandappropriateassistivedevicesforPersonswithDisabilities”(Mensah
et al, 2008). It is important to understand financial access to healthcare in order
to inform policy actions. However, going by the limited special provisions for
persons with disabilities in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),there
appears to be limited information on the subject in Ghanaian society.
Financialaccessibilityisseenastheeconomicstatusofanindividualthatdetermines
the ability to afford the cost of health service. Poor individuals, including persons
with disabilities, are not able to mobilise revenue towards healthcare, which
is attributed to the fact that they are mostly unemployed and this affects their
participation in insurance schemes (Preker and Carrin, 2004). These individuals
are therefore limited in contributing to decisions that affect their healthcare and
as such may be excluded from the health system (Xu et al, 2006; Peters et al, 2008).
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In general, researchers have established the fact that disability seems to have a
direct relationship with poverty and access to healthcare in resource-poor settings
(Elwan, 1999; Lwanga-Ntale, 2003). Therefore, gaining access to healthcare
becomes difficult for the poor, especially for persons with disabilities. Studies
have demonstrated that physical proximity and the client’s ability to afford
health services constitute the two major reasons why vulnerable groups like
persons with disabilities in developing countries do not obtain healthcare (World
Health Organisation, 2013). The cost of transportation and travel time may create
barriers to healthcare for those who live at a distance from the services point.
For instance, Apoya and Marriott (2011) assert that one-fourth of the Ghanaian
population lives over 60 kms away from a health facility. Persons with disabilities
who are unable to meet the transport costs may find this a barrier to healthcare.
On this basis, Muderedzi and Ingstad (2011) posited that persons with disabilities
are at high risk of developing health-related problems. This means they are
unlikely to lead healthy lives and will suffer the corresponding consequences -
unemployment, lower incomes, malnutrition and developing different types of
diseases (Fitzgerald, 2007; WHO, 2011). For this reason, the marginalised groups
who are described as poor and persons with disabilities find their way to the
traditional healers (Last, 1988; Brocklehurst and Costello, 2003).
Furthermore, not all persons with disabilities have the same health needs.
Some persons with disabilities require regular medical check-ups, rehabilitative
(therapy services) and assistive services (DeJong et al, 2002). Financial access to
healthcare may therefore limit and delay persons with disabilities from getting
the regular care they need (DeJong et al, 2002; Lee et al, 2012). A recent study
by Grutet al(2012), however, identified that it is essential to consider certain
factors when delivering healthcare to persons with disabilities who are located
in resource-poor settings. Their history, resources, needs and the capabilities of
their family members should be significantly noted.
In addition, the type of healthcare required by persons with disabilities and the
severity of their condition (DeJong et al, 2002) may have an influence on financial
access to healthcare. While costs associated with the care of certain health
conditions can be borne, to some extent, by most persons with disabilities and their
families, it could be a huge financial burden for some (Scheer et al, 2003; Drainoni
et al, 2006). Studies have suggested that conditions including mental disability,
musculoskeletal disease, dementia, stroke and cancers are the ones with maximum
healthcare costs (Meerding et al, 1998; DeJong et al, 2002; Polder et al, 2002).
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Healthcare Financing in Ghana and Persons with Disabilities
Ghana is one of the nations with a Health Insurance scheme. In 2003, this policy
was introduced under the Health Insurance Act 650, in place of the “cash and
carry” system which demands that clients make out-of-pocket cash payment
at the point of service before gaining access to health services (Abebrese, 2011;
Brugiavini and Pace, 2011; Gobah and Zhang, 2011; Addae-Korankye, 2013). The
primary objective of health insurance was to make healthcare affordable and
increase the general utilisation of drugs and healthcare, particularly among the
most vulnerable. Insured individuals have the opportunity to use outpatient
facilities and public providers, especially in lower-income communities (Jowett
et al, 2004). According to a study by Ansah et al (2009), individuals in Ghanaian
society who are enrolled in health insurance have a better chance to visit clinics,
obtain prescriptions and seek formal healthcare. Pregnant women also have the
option of utilising prenatal care, giving birth in a hospital, and having skilled
attendants present during delivery (Mensah et al, 2010). Witter and Garshong
(2009) also found that outpatient attendance per capita had increased significantly
in Ghana after the introduction of the NHIS in 2005.
According to the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD), this policy is intended
to remove financial barriers to healthcare for the poor in Ghanaian society;
however, persons with disabilities do not realise it due to some conditions related
to exemption criteria. According to these conditions, persons with disabilities
will be exempted from paying the subscription fee only on condition that they
are classified as being poor. In some circumstances, exemption is granted subject
to payment from the Disability Common Fund (DCF). In addition, according to
the GFD, the insurance covers only some accidents and most ordinary diseases,
leaving out rehabilitation services and assistive devices from the insurance
scheme (Ghana Federation of the Disabled, 2013).
A study conducted by Addae-Korankye (2013) on challenges of financing
healthcare in Ghana showed that criteria for identifying the marginalised and
the poor for exemption to pay NHIS have been ineffective and unsuccessful. The
Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights reported that the NHIS in Ghana poses
inequality, inefficiency and discrimination to the poor in society. Recognising the
tax system in Ghana as progressive, the poor including persons with disabilities
pay equally like the rich for about 15% of the tax which is allocated to the health
sector.
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In Ghana, there is inadequate information on financing healthcare among the
vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities. Inadequate financing
mechanismsthatfullysupporttheirhealthcare,coupledwithlimitedemployment
opportunities for independent living, pose serious challenges to persons with
disabilities and their family members (Mensah et al, 2008).
Objective
This study seeks to provide evidence on financial access to healthcare among
persons with disabilities, in order to inform policy on disability and health in the
Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana.
METHODS
Study Setting
The study was conducted in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana, located in the forest
zone and covering a total land area of 254 square kilometres (25,415 hectares). The
metropolis is divided into 10 sub-metros, namely, Asokwa, Asewase, Bantama,
Suame, Manhyia, Oforikrom, Tafo, Nhyiaeso, Subin and Kwadaso. As of 2010,
the resident population was 2 million people with an inter-censual growth rate
of 5.4%.
Kumasi metropolis is endowed with 189 health facilities, ranging from teaching
hospitals to clinics. Of these, 91% are managed by private individuals. Doctor-
Client and Nurse-Client ratios in the city are 1:4 and 1:8 respectively. About
81% of the population is registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme
(NHIS). This arguably makes healthcare affordable in the metropolis. Over 60%
of people who attend the OPD (outpatients’ unit) are malaria cases, making it
predominant in all the health facilities in the metropolis. There is no available
data on the total number of persons with disabilities who benefit from healthcare
through the NHIS each year.
Study Design, Methods and Sampling
A cross-sectional design with quantitative data collection method was employed
among persons with disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. The study
enrolled a total of 255 persons with disabilities - physically challenged, hearing
and visually impaired. Multi-stage sampling was used to randomly select 5 out
of 10 clusters of communities based on the definition of sub-metro, including
Oforikrom, Subin, Asokwa, Tafo and Asawase. The investigator and the research
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team also used simple random sampling to select participants who were from
these communities. Persons with disabilities in all the clusters were made to pick
from a box which had papers with either “Yes” or “No” written on them. All those
who picked a “Yes” and gave their consent were enrolled. This was repeated to
obtain the required sample size. In each cluster, a snowballing technique was
also used to zone households and streets in selected communities. The aim and
procedures of the study were explained to all the persons with disabilities who
were approached, and they were free to decide whether or not to participate.
The inclusion was partly based on those who were accessible and could provide
information on the topic of interest.
A structured questionnaire was administered to respondents. The questions
focussed on background characteristics and issues pertaining to financial access
to care. Background information included the community of residence, age,
gender, occupation, education, religion and whether they were living with their
family members. Questions on financial access related to the time it takes persons
with disabilities to reach the facility, transportation, monthly expenditure on
care, sources of payment and the coverage of expenses. The inclusion criteria
included persons with disabilities of age 16 years and above, who stayed in the
study area and accessed healthcare in the last 12 months within the metropolis.
Data Collection
The questionnaire was developed in English but administered in the respondents’
preferreddialect-English,SignlanguageorAsanteTwi.Aprofessionalinterpreter
volunteered to assist in the study. Prior to implementation, the Principal
Investigator (PI) organised a two-day training on the study tools, for 2 research
assistants who were studying MPhil Sociology and MSc Disability, Rehabilitation
and Development. The PI along with the 2 research assistants conducted the
field work.The data was collected over a period of 2 months (February – March,
2014) to allow time to reach all participants. However, each participant spent
approximately 40 minutes to answer the questions.
Data Analysis
Results of the analysis were generated using descriptive and analytical statistics.
Data analysis involved the estimation of percentage of socio-demographic
characteristics of respondents. The distribution of factors pertaining to financial
access to healthcare, including the time taken to reach the facility, amount
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spent on transportation, monthly expenditure on healthcare, regular source of
healthcare and payment, were again estimated using percentages and frequency.
The analyses of association between financial access and healthcare access were
estimated using the Chi-square tests of significance of association. Also, one-
way ANOVA was used to compare mean monthly expenditure on health among
various socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. Significance was set at
p-value of less than 0.05.
Ethical Consideration
The KNUST Committee for Human Research Publication and Ethics reviewed and
cleared the study protocols prior to the implementation of the study. Before they
were enrolled in the study, potential participants were given the translation of a
written informed consent and an explanation in a language they understood well.
RESULTS
Background Characteristics of Respondents
The background characteristics of respondents are presented in Table 1. The study
was conducted among 3 different disability groups, which included physically
challenged and hearing and visually impaired persons. Out of 255 respondents,
85 each were from the 3 disability groups. Half (50.6%) of the respondents were
males. The mean age of the respondents was 38 years. A little over one-third
(34.5%) of them had no formal education, while the rest had Junior High School,
Senior High School and tertiary education. While the majority of the respondents
(28.6%)wereunemployed,theremainingweregovernment/civilservants,trading,
farming or in apprenticeships. With respect to religion, the majority (85.1%) were
Christians. Most respondents were living with their family members.
Table 1: Background Information of Respondents
Variable Frequency Percentage (%)
Community of Resident
Oforikrom 49 19.2
Subin 50 19.6
Asawase 51 20.0
Tafo 55 21.6
Asokwa 50 19.6
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Gender
Male 129 50.6
Female 126 49.4
Age*
≤20 10 3.9
21 – 30 46 18.0
31 – 40 107 42.0
41 – 50 41 16.1
>50 51 20.0
Disability Type
Physical disability 85 33.3
Blind 85 33.3
Deaf 85 33.3
Employment
Government/Civil Servant 28 11.0
Trading 40 15.7
Farming 28 11.0
Apprenticeship/Craft 55 21.6
None 73 28.6
Other 31 12.2
Educational Level
No formal education 88 34.5
Primary 41 16.1
JSS/Middle School 43 16.9
SSS/Vocational School 39 15.3
Tertiary 43 16.9
Others 1 0.4
Religion
Christianity 208 81.6
Islamic 42 16.5
Others 5 2.0
Currently stay with family member (s)
Yes 217 85.1
No 38 14.9
*Mean (SD); Min/Max 38; 17/60
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Percentage distribution of Factors affecting Financial Access to Healthcare
among Persons with Disabilities
As shown in Table 2, respondents mentioned the time it takes them to walk or
travel to healthcare centres. The walking time was generally 15 - 30 minutes and
30 - 60 minutes. Most of the respondents indicated that they paid GHC 2.00 - 5.00
as transportation cost. The study found that the average monthly income among
respondents was GHC 218.7; however, most respondents earned between GHC
150.00 – 250.00.
Regarding the amount respondents spent on their healthcare every month, the
average was GHC 21.4 which constituted 9.8% of their average monthly income.
Half (50.2%) of the respondents spent GHC 11.00 - 20.00 on their healthcare in a
month. The regular sources from which they sought healthcare were hospitals
(68.2%), pharmacies (18.8%), rehabilitation centres (5%) and clinics (2.8%).
The NHIS was cited as the most regular source of payment for health services,
followed by payment from personal income, family members, social support
networks and friends, as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Percentage distribution of factors affecting Financial Access to
Healthcare among Persons with Disabilities
Variables Frequency (%)
Time to walk or travel to access healthcare
≤ 15 minutes 44 (17.3)
16 – 30 minutes 123 (48.2)
31 – 60 minutes 78 (30.6)
> 60 minutes 10 (3.9)
Cost to reach healthcare centre
≤ GHC 2.00 87 (34.4)
GHC 2.00 – 5.00 107 (42.3)
GHC 5.00 – 10.00 36 (14.2)
GHC 10.00 – 20.00 21 (8.3)
> GHC 20.00 2 (0.8)
Income for a month+
≤ GHC 100 27 (11.2)
GHC 100 – 150 68 (28.2)
GHC 150 – 250 74 (30.7)
GHC 250 – 300 24 (10.0)
> GHC 300 48 (19.9)
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Mean(SD); Min/Max+
Monthly cost of healthcare
≤ GHC 10.00 45 (17.6)
GHC 11.00 – 20.00 128 (50.2)
GHC 21.00 - 30.00 25 (9.8)
GHC 31.00 – 40.00 23 (9.0)
> GHC 40 34 (13.3)
Mean(SD); Min/Max++
Regular source of healthcare
Pharmacy 48 (18.8)
Hospital 174 (68.2)
Clinic 20 (7.8)
Rehabilitation centres 13 (5.1)
Regular source of payment for healthcare
Personal income 74 (29.0)
NHIS 162 (63.5)
Social support network 6 (2.4)
Family members 10 (3.9)
Friends 3 (1.2)
Sources of payment meet equipment and other suppliers’ coverage
Yes 15 (5.9)
No 240 (94.1)
Comparison of Income and Mean Monthly Expenses on Healthcare
Table 3 presents findings on the comparison of income levels and mean monthly
healthcare expenses among various socio-demographic characteristics of
respondents.Themeanmonthlyincomeandexpensesonhealthcarevariedamong
males and females. The mean expenses were significantly higher among female
respondents than males. The age distribution of respondents had significant
relationship with mean monthly expenses on healthcare. Also, individuals with
physical disabilities spent more on their healthcare every month, than hearing
and visually impaired persons did. The mean monthly expenditure on healthcare
varied significantly with employment and educational levels. There was also
a significant variation among those who did and those who did not stay with
their family members.The mean monthly expenses on healthcare were higher
for those who did not stay with their family members. Similarly, the average
monthly income of respondents differed significantly according to gender, age of
the respondents, as well as employment and educational levels.
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Table 3: The influence of Socio-demographic Characteristics on the Monthly
Healthcare Expenditure and Income of Respondents
Variable Value
Cost of Managing Healthcare
Expense*
Mean (Std)
p-value
Income**
Mean (Std)
p-value
Gender 0.011 0.001
o Male 19.42 (13.93) 243.10 (129.31)
o Female 23.55 (11.55) 192.33 (104.39)
Age 0.000 0.000
o ≤20 44.80 (11.57) 168.33 (65.24)
o 21 – 30 21.52 (13.52) 121.67 (55.71)
o 31 – 40 20.91 (11.53) 228.13 (114.12)
o 41 – 50 15.88 (8.84) 275 (144.64)
o >50 22.42 (13.51) 236.27 (114.30)
Disability 0.000 0.346
o Physical 29.51 (15.31) 206.76 (105.29)
o Visual 20.98 (10.37) 214.40 (140.23)
o Hearing 13.88 (6.4) 233.69 (111.23)
Employment 0.002 0.000
o Government 20.89 (12.25) 287.14 (172.44)
o Trading 18.92 (6.39) 246.18 (121.45)
o Farming 13.25 (5.91) 255.74 (128.87)
o Apprentice 24.73 (16.01) 175.82 (88.33)
o None 23.34 (12.92) 164.71 (53.71)
o Other 22.42 (15.40) 298.85 (132.79)
Education 0.001 0.000
o None 18.44 (12.27) 185.91 (96.42)
o Primary 22.85 (12.66) 259.63 (104.47)
o JSS/Middle 28.35 (14.58) 184.87 (92.83)
o SSS/Vocation 22.90 (10.64) 215 (122.50)
o Tertiary 18.14 (12.11) 297.71 (166.28)
o Others 20 180
Staying with Family 0.001 0.284
o Yes 20.38 (11.84) 222.29 (120.13)
o No 27.63 (16.93) 199.19 (122.31)
*Monthly expenses on healthcare, **Monthly income
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Table 4 presents findings of the Chi-square test of association between distribution
of financial access and healthcare among respondents. The study found that the
distance persons with disabilities walked or travelled, and the amount required
to reach the healthcare setting, had a statistically significant relationship with
access to services. Access to healthcare was, however, higher among those who
walked or travelled between 16 - 30 minutes to reach the facility, and those who
paid GHC 2.00 - 5.00 to reach the hospital. Also, the amount spent on healthcare
in a month had significant relationship with access to healthcare, with access
being greater among those who spent GHC 11 - 20. Similarly, a regular source
of healthcare increased the likelihood of accessing the services, with access
being higher among those who visited hospitals. Regular sources of payment of
healthcare also had a significant relationship with access to services.Those who
paid from NHIS subscription had higher access. Finally, access to healthcare
did not have any significant relationship with whether respondents’ source of
payment for healthcare met equipment and other suppliers’ coverage or not.
Table 4: Influence of Financial Access on Healthcare
Variables
Access Healthcare
Chi-
Square
p-valueYes
N (%)
No
N (%)
Time to walk or travel to access healthcare 13.9 0.003
≤ 15 minutes 44 (17.7) -
16 – 30 minutes 123 (49.4) -
31 – 60 minutes 72 (28.9) 6 (100)
> 60 minutes 10 (4.0) -
Cost to reach healthcare centre 15.036 0.005
≤ GHC 2.00 85 (34.4) 2 (33.3)
GHC 2.00 – 5.00 107 (43.3) -
GHC 5.00 – 10.00 32 (13.0) 4 (66.7)
GHC 10.00 – 20.00 21 (8.5) -
> GHC 20.00 2 (0.8) -
Income for a month+ 5.766 0.217
≤ GHC 100 27 (11.5) -
GHC 100 – 150 64 (27.2) 4 (66.7)
GHC 150 – 250 72 (30.6) 2 (33.3)
GHC 250 – 300 24 (10.2) -
> GHC 300 48 (20.4) -
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Monthly cost of healthcare+ 29.254 0.000
≤ GHC 10.00 45 (18.1) -
GHC 11.00 – 20.00 128 (51.4) -
GHC 21.00 - 30.00 25 (10.0) -
GHC 31.00 – 40.00 19 (7.6) 4 (66.7)
> GHC 40 32 (12.9) 2 (33.3)
Regular source of healthcare 144.384 0.000
Pharmacy 48 (19.3) -
Hospital 174 (69.9) -
Clinic 20 (8.0) -
Rehabilitation centres 7 (2.8) 6 (100)
Regular source of payment for healthcare 150.542 0.000
NHIS 162 (65.1) -
Personal income 74 (29.7) -
Social support network 6 (2.4) -
Family members 4 (1.6) -
Friends 3 (1.2) -
Sources of payment meet equipment and
other suppliers’ coverage
0.384 0.535
Yes 15 (6.0) -
No 234 (94.0) 6 (100)
DISCUSSION
For the purpose of the study, the sample consisted of 255 persons with disabilities
in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. There were more males with disabilities in the
study, in contrast to the finding from the Ghana Statistical Services report (2012)
which held that there were more females with disabilities in Ghana.The limited
participation of females in the research study could be due to their preoccupation
with domestic activities. Similarly, nearly one-third (constituting the majority)
of the respondents had no formal education, with 28.6% being unemployed.
The inaccessible environment could be responsible for limiting the participation
of persons with disabilities in education. These findings corroborate previous
studies which have established low participation of persons with disabilities in
education and employment, and have a ripple effect on their income (Fitzgerald,
2007; World Health Organisation, 2011).
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The average monthly expenses on healthcare, as found in this study, might be
relatively high and a financial burden for persons with disabilities. The majority
of the respondents were not employed and did not have regular incomes.
Findings indicated that the mean monthly expenses on healthcare were higher
among females than males. This suggests that females, especially when they are
pregnant, utilise health services more than males. Despite this, the study found
that males had higher mean monthly incomes than females. This is consistent
with the finding from the 2010 population census in Ghana (Ghana Statistical
Services, 2012).
The study also found that the mean monthly expenses on healthcare are not the
same for all age groups.The expenditure on healthcare was higher when the age
of respondents was lower, and vice versa. In contrast, a study in the Netherlands
by Meerding et al (1998) reported that healthcare costs increase as one grows
older, and increase exponentially after the age of 50 years. A possible explanation
is that, in Ghana, individual families try to find lasting cures and care for young
family members with a disability, leading to higher expenditure. The realisation
that the disability is a permanent condition gradually discourages them from
supporting healthcare of the person. This could be the reason for higher average
monthly expenses on healthcare for persons with disabilities below 20 years of
age, compared to the age groups of 21-30 years and 31- 40 years.
The study found that on an average, persons with physical disability spent
higher amounts on their healthcare per month compared to hearing and visually
impaired persons. This indicates that healthcare needs differ among persons with
disabilities, according to the type and severity of disability, so that some require
rehabilitation services and assistive services as reported by DeJong et al (2002).
The high cost of physical rehabilitation and assistive devices is implied. Since
there is only one Orthopaedic rehabilitation unit serving clients with physical
disabilities in Ghana, persons with physical disabilities are likely to face financial
barriers to healthcare. In some countries like the Netherlands, individuals with
mental disability, musculoskeletal disease, dementia, stroke and cancers are the
groups with top healthcare costs (Meerding et al, 1998; Polder et al, 2002).
Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the distance and amount respondents
pay for travelling to healthcare centres have an influence on access to healthcare.
Access to healthcare is, however, higher among persons with disabilities who
walk or travel for 16 - 30 minutes to access services. In the view of Apoya and
Marriott (2011), one-quarter of the Ghanaian population lived at a distance of over
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60kms from a health facility. These findings corroborate previous findings which
emphasise that factors such as transportation, distance and time taken to reach
healthcare settings certainly influence healthcare utilisation among persons with
disabilities in developing countries (WHO, 2013). In addition, findings indicated
that regular sources of healthcare have significant relationship with access to
healthcare. Access is higher among those who visit hospitals. This is an important
implication, as most respondents could have access to care but hospitals may not
have specialists to cater to the specific needs of persons with disabilities.
According to Peters et al (2008), affordability and measures to finance healthcare
are some of the important factors determining access among poor individuals,
including persons with disabilities. The present study, however, found that
NHIS was a regular source of payment for healthcare. Healthcare access was
higher among respondents who pay from NHIS rather than other sources. This is
consistent with the finding by Ansah et al (2009) which indicated that individuals
in Ghanaian society who enrolled in health insurance had a better chance of
visiting clinics, obtaining prescriptions and seeking formal healthcare. Despite
the use of NHIS by most respondents, it was revealed that the regular sources of
payment for healthcare did not cover equipment and other suppliers. As a regular
source of payment for healthcare expenses, NHIS is an important move towards
universal healthcare coverage. However, the present inadequate financial coverage
suggests that persons with disabilities could be dissatisfied with this source. The
findings suggest that enrolment in the NHIS programme may not be adequate
to ensure financial access to healthcare, as reported by Lee et al (2012). This
supports the concern that has been raised by the Ghana Federation of the Disabled
(GFD, 2013) about their dissatisfaction with the NHIS. Health insurance which is
practised in most countries as a basic way to remove cost barriers to healthcare
should therefore be made to cover all expenses for persons with disabilities. The
finding has the implication that if persons with disabilities refuse to access these
services because all related costs are not met by insurance coverage, it would
have detrimental effects like poverty, malnutrition and secondary disability, as
demonstrated by earlier studies (Fitzgerald, 2007; WHO, 2011).
CONCLUSION
Persons with disabilities are keen to become independent members of society who
can contribute to development. This requires them to be healthy enough to engage
in education, jobs and recreation. Financial stability would help them to sustain
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62
independent living. The large population of persons with disabilities in Ghana
have limited education and employment opportunities, which has a ripple effect
on income and financing healthcare. This study concludes that financial access to
healthcare remains a major challenge for persons with disabilities. The amount
paid for transportation, the regular sources of payment for healthcare, as well
as the distance to travel to healthcare centres, all influence access to healthcare.
Though most persons with disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis were enrolled in
NHIS and used this as the source of payment for healthcare, all their healthcare
expenses and suppliers were not covered. The fact remains that this will impact
theirutilisationofhealthcare.Toensurethatpersonswithdisabilitiesenjoyfinancial
risk protection, the Ministry of Health in Ghana should amend the NHIS policy
and make it cover all the healthcare expenses of persons with disabilities without
reservation. This would help to remove financial barriers to healthcare among
persons with disabilities. Also, major stakeholders including social networks
should assist in enrolling persons with disabilities into the NHIS, either through
payment of subscription fee or by educating them about the programme.
Limitations
The study is limited by the possibility of subjective bias in the interpretation of
deaf respondents. There is also the likelihood that persons with disabilities could
exaggerate the difficulty of financial access to healthcare because they consider
themselves to be disadvantaged. However, the scientific rigor followed for
example in estimation of sample size, helped to reach a larger population which
minimised such limitations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to thank the Committee on Human Research, Publications and
Ethics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), for
approving the study protocol prior to its implementation.They are grateful to all
the persons with disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana for their support
during the data collection.
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