Barriers to accessing healthcare for people with disabilities:a systematic review
Significant barriers hinder service access. Most frequent were financial constraints, transportation challenges, communication difficulties, limited physical accessibility, provider knowledge gaps, and socio-cultural stigma. Accessibility is typically addressed through individualized accommodations rather than systematic universal design. Providers frequently lack training and hold negative attitudes; technology retrofits rather than design inclusively. Effective solutions require systemic redesign and placing disability at the center of health equity efforts.
Authors
- Giustino Morlino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2209-6245)
- Martina Chimienti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8776-303X)
- Ersilia Buonomo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3924-9917)
- Leonardo Palombi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1806-5278)
- S. Gjergji
- O. Zerellari
- A. Mistretta
- D. Ndreca
- R. Shkreli
- F. Leonforte
- G. Liotta
- K. Stefanidhi
- V. Nicosia
Institutions
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- United States Public Health Service (US)
- University of Catania (IT)
- Catholic University Our Lady of Good Counsel (AL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Public Health
- Published
- 2026-02-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1765145
- Primary Topic
- Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00