Abstract:
Globally, persons living with disabilities experience myriad of challenges associated with
reproductive health and face new vulnerabilities to human rights abuses at the onset of
adolescence. Though the health system that manages overall health issues under the
Ministry of Health in Kenya include the general reproductive health services to all
population segments, persons with disabilities have limited or no access to education and
health, among other issues whose impact especially on reproductive health has been
exposure to unwanted early pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted
infections including HIV. Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine
the management practices of nurses of nurses on reproductive health services of persons
with disabilities in Thika Level 5 hospital. Method: The study was conducted in Thika
level 5 hospital and it adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design where both quantitative
and qualitative techniques in data collection were utilized. The study population
comprised of nurses working at the hospital and persons living with disabilities.
Systematic and purposive sampling methods were used to get the sample size required for
the study. Pretesting was done to ensure validity and reliability. Data was collected using
self-administered structured questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group
discussions. Data entry and analysis from questionnaire was done using STATA.
Descriptive statistics were used to describe variability and dispersion of responses, Likert
scale used to measure the attitude of Nurses and results presented in tables, charts, graphs
and narratives. Data from key informant interviews and focused group discussion were
transcribed and subjected to content and thematic analytical processes that ranged from
coding to categorization of themes which were developed from the responses in line with
the study objectives. Its findings were presented in narrative and verbatim form. Ethical
approval was sought and granted from KNH/UON ethical review committee. Informed
consent was obtained individually from respondents prior to their acceptance to participate
in the study. Results: The study found out that all RHS are available to PLDs like any
other person in the society though they face a number of challenges associated with
management of these services. This include lack of policies (45%), inaccessibility
(36.4%), stigma (23.2%), affordability (14.6%). The attitude of Nurses had significant
influence towards RHS for PLDs. Conclusion: PLDs will continue to face direct health related consequences such as unplanned, unintended pregnancies, poor health and STIs,
among others, and the impact of the same, if the identified challenges associated with the
management and provision of RHS are not adequately addressed. Clarity on how RHS
needs to be provided to PLDs is greatly missing from the management. The Ministry of
Health should embrace feasible strategies of embracing a robust health system in Kenya
and Kiambu county to ensure that it’s sensitive and responsive to the main challenges and
the needs of PLDs in regards to RH