Barriers to essential surgical care experienced by women in the two northernmost regions of Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Women in developing countries might experience certain barriers to care more frequently than men. We aimed to describe barriers to essential surgical care that women face in five communities in Ghana.

Methods

Questions regarding potential barriers were asked during surgical outreaches to five communities in the northernmost regions of Ghana. Responses were scored in three dimensions from 0 to 18 (i.e., 'acceptability,' 'affordability,' and 'accessibility'; 18 implied no barriers). A barrier to care index out of 10 was derived (10 implied no barriers). An open-ended question to elicit gender-specific barriers was also asked.

Results

Of the 320 participants approached, 315 responded (response rate 98 %); 149 were women (47 %). Women had a slightly lower barri

SUBMITTER: Gyedu A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4882854 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature