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. 2024 Dec 18;23(1):267.
doi: 10.1186/s12939-024-02356-4.

Challenges in accessing health care services for women and girls with disabilities using a humanitarian physical rehabilitation program in Lebanon: a mixed method study

Linda Abou-Abbas #  1 , Diana Sabbagh #  2 , Rodolfo Rossi  3 , Lavanya Vijayasingham  4 , Maria Rita Lteif  2 , Haya Rawi  1 , Rouba Mitri  3 , Hala Al Sultan  1 , Aicha Benyaich  3 , Ahmad Al-Mosa #  5 , Claudia Truppa #  3   6
Affiliations

Challenges in accessing health care services for women and girls with disabilities using a humanitarian physical rehabilitation program in Lebanon: a mixed method study

Linda Abou-Abbas et al. Int J Equity Health. .

Abstract

Background: Achieving equitable healthcare access for persons with disabilities is vital, as they often face various barriers that impact their health and well-being. Recognizing the importance of gender equity, this study aims to explore the specific barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities in accessing quality healthcare services in Lebanon.

Methods: A mixed-method sequential explanatory approach was employed. Initially, a retrospective descriptive study analyzed data from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-supported physical rehabilitation programme (PRP) database. Subsequently, in-depth interviews were conducted to delve into factors influencing gender-disproportionate service users and to uncover barriers to accessing healthcare. Levesque et al.'s 'Conceptual framework on healthcare access' was used to organize and map the results.

Results: The quantitative analysis of service utilization at ICRC PRP centers from 2015 to 2022 revealed significant gender disparities, with males comprising 66.6% of service users compared to 33.4% females. This trend was consistent across age categories, nationalities, and clinical conditions. Healthcare access for women and girls with disabilities was found to be inadequate across all five dimensions of the Levesque framework: adequacy, accessibility, affordability, appropriateness, and availability, as well as their corresponding abilities. While certain challenges such as transportation, financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and limited information on available services were common to both genders, gender-specific barriers primarily included societal norms, safety concerns during unaccompanied visits to healthcare facilities, limited access to societal information, economic disparities, preferences for female healthcare providers, and the need for privacy during consultations.

Conclusion: This study underscores key barriers hindering healthcare access for women and girls with disabilities in Lebanon, necessitating tailored interventions. Gender-specific challenges, including societal norms and safety concerns, require targeted solutions for improved access and outcomes. This study serves as a call to action for stakeholders at various levels to collaborate and implement concrete measures to bridge the gap in healthcare access and ensure that no one is left behind.

Keywords: Access to healthcare; Disabilities; Girls; Humanitarian program; Lebanon; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study received ethical approval from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ethical review board (Reference: LDP_CORE 23/00007 - CGB/bap). Participants were fully informed of their rights, including voluntary participation and the option to withdraw consent without consequences. They were also assured that their decision to participate would not affect their regular access to services. All participants provided written informed consent. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Levesque conceptual framework for healthcare access [14]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sex distribution in accessing ICRC PRP services by nationality between 2015 and 2020. NB: Data on nationalities were available for the period from 2015 to 2020
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Amputation-related sex distribution in PRP service access between 2015 and 2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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