Structural Impairments That Limit Access to Health Care for Patients With Disabilities

Associations of Pap test utilisation with comorbidity and functional impairment among middle-aged non-Hispanic black women in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2018 BRFSS data

“…Healthcare providers might prioritise managing chronic diseases or functional impairment over recommending preventive health services because coexisting illnesses can directly cause adverse health events in a shorter time period and typically receive more attentions 39–41. Additionally, the Pap test procedure involves a series of movements, including getting onto standard fixed-height examination tables with knees bent and heels rest in stirrups, which can be physically strenuous for women with movement disabilities 42 43. Consequently, these individuals may encounter practical challenges when accessing the Pap test.…”

Health Care Access and Use Among Adults With and Without Vision Impairment: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2018

“…A recent study that focused on US adults aged 40 years or older found that vision-impaired people received fewer regular dental preventive care and treatment services (28). Poor dental care can have a negative impact on self-esteem, quality of life, nutrition, communication, and general health.…”

“…Spencer and colleagues reported that transportation issues and refusal of services by health care providers were primary barriers among people aged 40 years or older with vision impairment ( 22 ). Challenges associated with transportation are likely to affect people with vision impairment more than others, and people with disabilities have limited access to health care facilities because of a lack of assistive technology ( 29 ). The use of assistive technology, such as application of the sighted guide technique and screen magnifiers for low-vision computer users, could help reduce this disparity.…”

Cluster Analysis of the Highest Users of Medical, Behavioral Health, and Social Services in San Francisco

“…Our results may be the result of downstream effects of interpersonal discrimination from health care providers, access limitations to preventative care and medications, and care dissatisfaction experienced by individuals with disabilities. 50 – 54 With respect to race and ethnicity, the majority of patients in subgroups 3 and 4 self-identified as Black; and both subgroups had high burdens of patients with all three comorbidity domains, significant medical service use, and minimal SUD service use. Socioeconomic disinvestment in predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods contributes to the paucity of primary and MH care, as well as the poor health outcomes experienced by Black and Latinx individuals.…”