Accessibility to disability-care institutions and public health services in Ragama Medical Officer of Health Area

Abstract

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.