Disabled persons and health care prevention programmes: a case study of deaf and (or) leprosy persons in Nigeria

Ezinne Enwereji, Abia State University

Assessing health care services including HIV/AIDS prevention to disabled persons particularly those with leprosy and/or deafness is crucial to their rehabilitation . Governments’ focus on able-bodied during health planning can over-simplify analysis that health care services including HIV/AIDS prevention to disabled is not effectively addressed. One may ask, are disabled persons especially those confined in settlements benefiting from health care prevention? Total sample of 227 inmates and 34 Health Care Workers were studied in three purposively selected settlements in Abia and Oyo States. Questionnaire, focus group discussion and interview guides were instruments for study. Data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively with Stat Pac Gold package. Findings showed no health care services including HIV prevention. Most disabled were at risk of unprotected sex. 99(43.6%) in Oyo and 88(38.8%) in Abia State, cohabited with opposite sexes and had babies. There is need for reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention and sex education for disabled.