Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal.
<h4>Background</h4>Women with disabilities in rural Nepal face many challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services including harassment and unpleasant behavior by the healthcare providers. Though National Guideline for Disability Inclusive Health Service in Nepal is in p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311944 |
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| author | Pabitra Neupane Suyasha Adhikari Sushma Khanal Sulochana Devkota Manasi Sharma Anisha Shrestha Amit Timilsina |
| author_facet | Pabitra Neupane Suyasha Adhikari Sushma Khanal Sulochana Devkota Manasi Sharma Anisha Shrestha Amit Timilsina |
| author_sort | Pabitra Neupane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Women with disabilities in rural Nepal face many challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services including harassment and unpleasant behavior by the healthcare providers. Though National Guideline for Disability Inclusive Health Service in Nepal is in place, there are gaps in providing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women with disabilities. There has been limited research exploring the competency and capacity of health care providers on providing sexual and reproductive health services and information for women living with disabilities. Thus, this study aims to explore the competencies of rural healthcare providers in delivering disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services for women with disabilities.<h4>Methods</h4>The study used qualitative research methodology using thematic research design. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines to obtain information. Data collection was carried out till the data saturation was reached. Inductive coding was done using Dedoose software. The codebook was developed, sub-themes and themes were developed and presented as result of this study.<h4>Results</h4>Knowledge gaps in disability management, procedural skills and biased perception towards sexual and reproductive health need of women with disabilities, were evident among healthcare providers. Additionally, an inadequate skill among health care providers to communicate with women with disabilities for service provision was evident. To address these challenges and enhance the competency of the health care providers there is need for disability management trainings for them. Other important measures such as inclusion of disability and sexual and reproductive health in medical education curriculum, provision of sign language interpreter and disability inclusive information system, decision-making abilities and authority for disability inclusive infrastructure and tool is necessary.<h4>Conclusion</h4>To address the existing challenges for disability inclusive health services, it is essential to strengthen the competency and agency of the healthcare providers, and improve the ecosystem of health institution. For this, it is important for health institutions to be disability inclusive, improved behavior and attitude of health care providers, enhanced clinical knowledge on disability management and procedural skills of healthcare providers. Additionally, improving interpersonal communication skills and decision-making autonomy of health care providers is important for disability inclusive SRH services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c33ec24e78a470ba6aeb87d36fe246e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c33ec24e78a470ba6aeb87d36fe246e2025-08-20T02:59:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011912e031194410.1371/journal.pone.0311944Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal.Pabitra NeupaneSuyasha AdhikariSushma KhanalSulochana DevkotaManasi SharmaAnisha ShresthaAmit Timilsina<h4>Background</h4>Women with disabilities in rural Nepal face many challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services including harassment and unpleasant behavior by the healthcare providers. Though National Guideline for Disability Inclusive Health Service in Nepal is in place, there are gaps in providing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women with disabilities. There has been limited research exploring the competency and capacity of health care providers on providing sexual and reproductive health services and information for women living with disabilities. Thus, this study aims to explore the competencies of rural healthcare providers in delivering disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services for women with disabilities.<h4>Methods</h4>The study used qualitative research methodology using thematic research design. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines to obtain information. Data collection was carried out till the data saturation was reached. Inductive coding was done using Dedoose software. The codebook was developed, sub-themes and themes were developed and presented as result of this study.<h4>Results</h4>Knowledge gaps in disability management, procedural skills and biased perception towards sexual and reproductive health need of women with disabilities, were evident among healthcare providers. Additionally, an inadequate skill among health care providers to communicate with women with disabilities for service provision was evident. To address these challenges and enhance the competency of the health care providers there is need for disability management trainings for them. Other important measures such as inclusion of disability and sexual and reproductive health in medical education curriculum, provision of sign language interpreter and disability inclusive information system, decision-making abilities and authority for disability inclusive infrastructure and tool is necessary.<h4>Conclusion</h4>To address the existing challenges for disability inclusive health services, it is essential to strengthen the competency and agency of the healthcare providers, and improve the ecosystem of health institution. For this, it is important for health institutions to be disability inclusive, improved behavior and attitude of health care providers, enhanced clinical knowledge on disability management and procedural skills of healthcare providers. Additionally, improving interpersonal communication skills and decision-making autonomy of health care providers is important for disability inclusive SRH services.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311944 |
| spellingShingle | Pabitra Neupane Suyasha Adhikari Sushma Khanal Sulochana Devkota Manasi Sharma Anisha Shrestha Amit Timilsina Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal. PLoS ONE |
| title | Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal. |
| title_full | Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal. |
| title_fullStr | Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal. |
| title_short | Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal. |
| title_sort | understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural nepal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311944 |
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