Access to Public Healthcare Rehabilitation Services by Persons with Disabilities in South Africa: a Scoping Review

Hester M van Biljon; Bianca Salie; Jancke C van Wyk; Jessica Daniel; Lize-Mari Kersop; Michaela Naidoo; Lana van Niekerk

doi:10.47985/dcidj.620

Hester M van Biljon ⁽¹⁾, Bianca Salie ⁽²⁾, Jancke C van Wyk ⁽³⁾, Jessica Daniel ⁽⁴⁾, Lize-Mari Kersop ⁽⁵⁾, Michaela Naidoo ⁽⁶⁾, Lana van Niekerk ⁽⁷⁾

(1) Stellenbosch University, South Africa,

(2) Stellenbosch University, South Africa,

(3) Stellenbosch University, South Africa,

(4) Stellenbosch University, South Africa,

(5) Stellenbosch University, South Africa,

(6) Stellenbosch University, South Africa,

(7) Stellenbosch University, South Africa

https://doi.org/10.47985/dcidj.620

Issue
Vol. 33 No. 3: (Autumn) - 2022

Submitted
June 10, 2022

Published
November 3, 2022

Keywords:

Affordability, acceptability, availability, interprofessional rehabilitation services, public healthcare, barriers, facilitators to rehabilitation

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Abstract

Purpose: The South African National Health System, funded by National Health Insurance, aims to ensure universal access to quality healthcare for all South Africans. The aim of this scoping review was to explore barriers and facilitators experienced by persons with disabilities when accessing rehabilitation services in public healthcare facilities in South Africa. For this scoping review, disability was seen as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and access was understood to include availability, accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of rehabilitation.

Method: Sources were included if they were published between 2012 and 2021, in English, and contained primary research undertaken in South Africa pertaining to accessibility to public healthcare facilities for rehabilitation by persons with disabilities. Following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, the search included CINAHL, EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, SciELO, and Google Scholar. Rayyan was used to screen sources for eligibility. Ineligible sources were removed, based on titles and abstracts, and the eligibility of remaining sources was confirmed in the full texts review. Although 70 sources were identified and screened, only 19 were found to be eligible for inclusion. Data was extracted on Microsoft Excel and Word templates. Analysis and synthesis were done using Microsoft Excel and Taguette.

Results: The findings showed that the most prominent barrier restricting the access of persons with disability to rehabilitation was affordability. Other barriers were availability and acceptability of services. Physical access to rehabilitation was affected by inaccessible transport and community mobility, social and community barriers. The facilitators that were most prevalent were personal attitudes, family and friends - societal and community - and governmental support.

Conclusion and Implications: This scoping review confirmed that access to rehabilitation services in public healthcare facilities in South Africa is a multifaceted issue, which requires a multisectoral approach to achieve sustainable and effective solutions. Intersectoral and interprofessional approaches by public healthcare rehabilitation service providers and stakeholders are necessary to improve access to services.

Better reliance on facilitators that are already in place should improve access to rehabilitation services. This includes improved collaboration with community leaders, family members and users of disability services.

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Authors

Hester M van Biljon

Stellenbosch University

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4433-6457

HesterMvanBiljon@gmail.com (Primary Contact)

Bianca Salie

Stellenbosch University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6973-514X

Jancke C van Wyk

Stellenbosch University

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5075-5506

Jessica Daniel

Stellenbosch University

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4913-5005

Lize-Mari Kersop

Stellenbosch University

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4033-4948

Michaela Naidoo

Stellenbosch University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1072-5537

Lana van Niekerk

Stellenbosch University

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0003-6006

Author Biographies

Hester M van Biljon, Stellenbosch University

Hester van Biljon is a Post-doctoral fellow in the Occupational Therapy department at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She holds a Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her research is predominantly focused on public healthcare in South Africa with specific application to rehabilitation. Her clinical experience is in vocational rehabilitation.

Bianca Salie, Stellenbosch University

Bianca Salie is an occupational therapist currently busy with her community service year at Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital, Kimberly, South Africa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational therapy, obtained from the University of Stellenbosch

Jancke C van Wyk, Stellenbosch University

Jancke s a community service Occupational Therapist at Witrand Psychiatric Hospital, Potchefstroom, South Africa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational therapy, obtained from the University of Stellenbosch.

Jessica Daniel, Stellenbosch University

Jessica Daniel is a community service Occupational therapist at Tafalofefe Hospital, Khabakazi, South Africa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational therapy, obtained from the University of Stellenbosch.

Lize-Mari Kersop, Stellenbosch University

Lize-Mari Kersop is an Occupational therapist currently busy with her community service year at Potchefstroom Hospital in the North-West province of South Africa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational therapy, obtained from the University of Stellenbosch.

Michaela Naidoo, Stellenbosch University

Michaela Naidoo is a community service Occupational Therapist at Witbank Provincial Hospital, South Africa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational therapy, obtained from the University of Stellenbosch.

Lana van Niekerk, Stellenbosch University

Lana van Niekerk is an Associate Professor and Researcher at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She holds a Ph.D. in Occupational therapy, obtained from the University of Cape Town. Her specialities are research methodology and occupational science; with specific application to work practice and community mobility.

1.

van Biljon HM, Salie B, van Wyk JC, Daniel J, Kersop L-M, Naidoo M, van Niekerk L. Access to Public Healthcare Rehabilitation Services by Persons with Disabilities in South Africa: a Scoping Review. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2022 Nov. 3 [cited 2025 Jan. 3];33(3):41-67. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/620

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