Assessing the Accessibility of Sexual Reproductive Health Services by Hearing Impaired Persons: A Case of Nairobi County
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Date
2019-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Daystar University, School of Human and Social Sciences
Abstract
The study sought to assess accessibility of sexual reproductive health services among persons with disabilities in Nairobi County, a case study of the deaf. In many societies, the deaf and other disabled persons are mistakenly perceived as unable to carry out the physical act of sexual intimacy. Further, cultural myths and wrong notions surround their sexual and reproductive health. This implies that they are constantly left without support and information which causes constraints that bar their access to sexual reproductive health services (SRHs). The objectives of the study were to identify factors that influence access and use of SRHs by the deaf persons in Nairobi County and to establish the sources of information on SRH services and the communication strategies used to disseminate the information to the deaf. The other objective was to find out the major constraints and their effects in accessing SRH services and HIV information by the deaf and to recommend options for improving accessibility of SRH services and HIV information among deaf. The researcher applied a descriptive research design. A census was conducted for all the 96 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and descriptively analysed using SPSS version 21. The study revealed that the factors that influenced access and use of SRHs were restriction by parents and marriage partners at 48%, unfriendly service providers at 62%, cultural beliefs at 12%, and cost of SRHs constraints at 54%. The main constraints in accessing SRH services were negative attitudes from health workers at 78%, high cost of services at 80%, stigma and discrimination at 64%. The study concluded that SRHs access constraints reported in this study had major implications for accessibility and HIV prevention outcomes. The study recommended that the government and other healthcare stakeholders should initiate policy changes to ensure the deaf have unlimited access to SRHs and HIV services.
Description
Master of Arts
in Monitoring and Evaluation
Keywords
Sexual Reproductive Health Services, Hearing Impaired Persons, Nairobi County
Citation
Nzau, M. N., (2019). Assessing the Accessibility of Sexual Reproductive Health Services by Hearing Impaired Persons: A Case of Nairobi County. Daystar University, School of Human and Social Sciences