Families experiences in seeking rehabilitation care for their children with disabilities in Northern Ghana: a qualitative study

PURPOSE: The study explored families' experiences of raising Children with Disabilities (CWDs) and accessing rehabilitation services in Ghana. It aims to address the knowledge gap in the context of barriers to accessing rehabilitation services for CWDs in low- and middle-income countries, specifically focusing on families' perspectives in the context of Ghana. METHODS: An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was adopted for this study. Employing a purposive sampling technique, 20 family members raising CWDs were recruited for in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed thematically, guided by the Access to Health Care framework. RESULTS: Six themes emerged from the data analysis. These are 1). Availability; 2). Accessibility; 3). Acceptability; 4). Accommodation; 5). Affordability and 6). Awareness. Overall, the findings have important implications for policy and practice aimed at improving access to rehabilitation services for CWDs in Ghana and similar contexts. CONCLUSION: Participants' experiences have important implications for rehabilitation service provision and policy decision-making. As such, there is an urgent need to involve families raising CWDs in the development and implementation of rehabilitation services interventions to meet the nuanced needs of CWDs. This may enhance Ghana's efforts toward achieving Articles 25 and 26 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).