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Title: | Barriers to formal healthcare utilisation among poor older people under the livelihood empowerment against poverty programme in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of Ghana |
Authors: | Agyemang-Duah, Williams Peprah, Charles Peprah, Prince |
Keywords: | Barriers Formal healthcare Formal healthcare utilisation Older person Ghana |
Issue Date: | 28-Aug-2019 |
Publisher: | BMC Public Health |
Abstract: | Background: Even though there is a growing literature on barriers to formal healthcare use among older people,
little is known from the perspective of vulnerable older people in Ghana. Involving poor older people under the
Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, this study explores barriers to formal healthcare use
in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of Ghana.
Methods: Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 30 poor older people, 15 caregivers and 15
formal healthcare providers in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of Ghana. Data were analysed using the thematic
analytical framework, and presented based on an a posteriori inductive reduction approach.
Results: Four main barriers to formal healthcare use were identified: physical accessibility barriers (poor transport
system and poor architecture of facilities), economic barriers (low income coupled with high charges, and noncomprehensive nature of the National Health Insurance Scheme [NHIS]), social barriers (communication/language
difficulties and poor family support) and unfriendly nature of healthcare environment barriers (poor attitude of
healthcare providers).
Conclusions: Considering these barriers, removing them would require concerted efforts and substantial financial
investment by stakeholders. We argue that improvement in rural transport services, implementation of free
healthcare for poor older people, strengthening of family support systems, recruitment of language translators at
the health facilities and establishment of attitudinal change programmes would lessen barriers to formal healthcare
use among poor older people. This study has implications for health equity and health policy framework in Ghana. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/13558 |
Appears in Collections: | College of Architecture and Planning
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