Experiences of Girls with Hearing Impairment in Accessing Reproductive Health Care Services in Ibadan, Nigeria

Delivery of health services to people with hearing impairment is poorly understood in Nigeria and limited research has been done to throw more light on the process involved. This study described experiences of 167 girls with hearing impairment in accessing reproductive health services in Ibadan using a validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Almost 95.0% of respondents had ever visited health facility for reproductive health issues. Of these 6.2% and 4.6% went for treatment of STIs and pregnancy termination respectively; 36.7% were embarrassed to ask questions in the presence of an interpreter, communication (40.5%) and cost (10.8%) were key barriers to access and 85.6% would use facility if hearing impairment-friendly services are provided. Respondents who were currently working were 20 times more likely to receive services they wanted (OR=20.29, CI=1.05-392.16). Availability of certified interpreters and ensuring confidentiality are key to effective service delivery for the hearing impaired. Resume La prestation des services de sante aux personnes atteintes de deficience auditive est mal comprise au Nigeria et il n’y a pas eu assez de recherche faite pour jeter plus de lumiere sur le processus implique. A l’aide d’un questionnaire valide, cette etude decrit les experiences de 167 filles atteintes de deficience auditive, face a l'acces aux services de sante de la reproduction, a Ibadan. Les statistiques descriptives et de regression logistique binaire ont ete utilisees pour analyser les donnees. Pres de 95,0% des interviewees avaient deja visite un etablissement de sante pour les questions de sante de la reproduction. Parmi elles, 6,2% et 4,6% sont allees pour le traitement des ISTs et l'interruption de grossesse, respectivement; 36,7% etaient genees de poser des questions a la presence d'un interprete ; la communication (40,5%) et le cout (10,8%) etaient les principaux obstacles a l'acces et 85,6% se serviront des etablissements de sante si les services adaptes a la deficience auditive sont assures. Les interviewees qui travaillent actuellement etaient 20 fois plus susceptibles de recevoir des services qu'ils voulaient (OR = 20,29, IC = 1,05 a 392,16). La disponibilite des interpretes certifies et l’assurance de la confidentialite sont essentielles a la prestation efficace des services pour les personnes atteintes de deficience auditive. Keywords: disability, reproductive health, health care access, hearing impaired girls