Unmet Health Care Service Needs of Children With Disabilities in Penang, Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Abstract
Information on unmet health care needs reveal problems that are related to unavailability and inaccessibility of services. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence, and the reasons for unmet service needs among children with disabilities in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Caregivers of children with disabilities aged 0 to 12 years registered with the Penang Social Welfare Department in 2012 answered a self-administered mailed questionnaire. A total of 305 questionnaires were available for analysis (response rate 37.9%). Services that were very much needed and yet highly unmet were dental services (49.6% needed, 59.9% unmet), dietary advice (30.9% needed, 63.3% unmet), speech therapy (56.9% needed, 56.8% unmet), psychology services (25.5% needed, 63.3% unmet), and communication aids (33.0% needed, 79.2% unmet). Access problems were mainly due to logistic issues and caregivers not knowing where to obtain services. Findings from this study can be used to inform strategies for service delivery and advocacy for children with disabilities in Penang, Malaysia.
Keywords
Access problems, Children with disabilities, Health care services, Needs assessment, Unmet needs
Divisions
fac_med
Publication Title
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health
Volume
27
Issue
8_supp
Publisher
SAGE Publications (UK and US)