Non-use of healthcare services among persons with mobility impairments in Cofimvaba, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Access to primary health care is a fundamental right for all. However, persons with disabilities are experiencing difficulties when accessing healthcare because of various environmental and personal barriers which may lead to nonuse of such services. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the challenges leading to non-use of healthcare services among persons with mobility impairments in Cofimvaba. METHOD: A descriptive qualitative design using snowball sampling was implemented. Semistructured interviews were conducted in isiXhosa with five participants who stopped accessing healthcare, using a self-developed interview guide. Inductive thematic analysis was used to develop codes and themes from the data. RESULTS: Study findings revealed major challenges experienced by persons with mobility impairments in accessing healthcare. These included inaccessible roads, geographic inaccessibility, financial accessibility and indirect cost of care, having little or not many health problems, physical infrastructure difficulties within facilities, and attitudinal barriers. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that persons with disabilities are experiencing a combination of structural and environmental challenges which make them stop accessing healthcare. CONTRIBUTION: The article shares insights on access challenges that influence non-use of the often-needed healthcare services within the context of rural areas.