ACCESS TO REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: THE CASE OF THE SALVAVTION ARMY REHABILITATION AND ORTHOPEDIC TRAINING CENTER, AGONA-DUAKWA, CENTRAL REGION, GHANA.

ABSTRACT 

This was a qualitative study focused on access to rehabilitation services for persons with physical disabilities at the Salvation Army Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Training Center at Agona- Duakwa in the Central Region of Ghana. Data was collected and analyzed thematically with the use of document scrutiny which enabled for data triangulation during the analysis process.  Results indicated that persons with physical disabilities had three main types of access to the Center which are, physical, service and personnel access which made their rehabilitation sessions meaningful. Also persons with physical disabilities felt their aptitudes and interest were determining factors in the rehabilitation process. The results revealed interestingly that persons with disabilities felt their service providers should take the lead in decisions that concern their rehabilitation process as such they had very little to say on how services they received could be improved. Prominent among their challenges was finance, as most of the persons were now involved in vocational training for independent living. The study recommends that the management of the Salvation Army Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Training Center need to organize regular in-service training for all their staff involved in the provision of rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. The training should include new strategies for service provision, collaboration and strategies for fund raising. This would in the long run improve service delivery, address the issue of funds and foster stronger relationships between the Center and other organizations. The Center with the help of the Ministry of Health should employ more staff to address the issue of long waiting times and the issue of staff-patient-ratio. This will enable the service providers render better services and improve on the overall quality of the service delivery process.