Availability and Accessibility of Appropriate Healthcare Equipment in Antenatal Clinic for Women with Physical Disability in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Abstract

Health systems throughout the world are struggling with the challenge of how to manage health-care delivery in conditions of resource constraint. The availability and utilisation of various health care equipment at all levels of the health care system has been emphasised for effective and efficient service delivery and health. The objective of this study was to assess availability and accessibility of appropriate healthcare equipment in antenatal clinic for people with physical disability who were clients and identify reported reasons that affect availability and utilisation of medical devices among four referral hospitals in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A qualitative method was used in four Government owned hospitals in Port Harcourt and data was collected by observation of availability of the devices and key informants interview in the study hospitals. Observation and interview using checklist showed that none of the hospitals had a height-adjustable examination table, chair and an accessible weighing scale. The result showed that the health care system for pregnant physically-challenged mothers was very poor. Hence a need to sensitise service providers on reproductive health needs of people with physical disability and for government to enforce physical disability-friendly services in all health facilities.