This was a qualitative and quantitative study on opportunities and challenges
faced by women with physical disabilities in accessing and utilizing public health
services in Nairobi City County.
The study sought to describe the difficulties encountered by women with
physical disabilities while seeking healthcare services at public hospitals. It was guided
by the critical disability theory which analysed disability issues and viewed the
problems of disability explicitly as the product of unequal society.
Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, key informant
interviews, focus group discussions and observation. Analysis was done through
thematic approach.
The study findings suggest that the research subjects encounter several
challenges as they approach public facilities for healthcare services. These challenges
include lack of proper health facilities, poor infrastructure and insensitive medical
personnel to concerns of PWDs.
The findings also indicate that the main opportunities available for women with
physical disabilities in accessing and utilizing services offered at public hospitals would
be the building of more ramps, provision of wheelchairs, and provision of low beds.
Other issues have to do with free medication, non-slippery floors and establishment of
special wings for WWPDs.
On the basis of these findings, the study concludes that lack of proper health
facilities in public hospitals negatively affects women with physical disabilities in
Nairobi City County. It is, therefore recommended that the administration in public
hospitals should ensure facilities such as low beds and low toilets; special units for
women with physical disabilities; ramps and floors that are adapted to disability; widen
corridors and doorways and give priority services to the WWPDs in the public
hospitals.