Service providers’ perspectives in providing services to children with disabilities and their families in Bangladesh

Abstract

Purpose

This study seeks to gain an understanding of access to rehabilitation services and disability allowances for children with disabilities and their families from the perspectives of service providers.

Method

We interviewed 21 service providers in Bangladesh and used thematic analysis to analyze data.

Results

Participants reported their perspectives on two major themes: (a) challenges in providing services to children with disabilities (e.g., limited availability of services and favouritism); and (b) facilitators in providing services to children with disabilities (e.g., cooperation from community leaders and satisfaction).

Conclusion

Providers’ perspectives revealed unique insights that might be interesting for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. The findings reinforce the need to consider the availability of rehabilitation professionals and disability allowances to meet the greatest needs of children with disabilities and their families in Bangladesh. The findings also call for further research on policymakers' perspectives on addressing the systemic issues encountered by providers in providing support to children with disabilities and their families in Bangladesh.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation services are critical for children with disabilities to achieve optimal health, wellbeing and human rights

• The government of Bangladesh has increased rehabilitation services for children with disabilities, but there is a need for further investment to increase rehabilitation workforce

• It is important to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of disability-specific programs to ensure equitable access to services for children with disabilities

Keywords:

• Access
• Bangladesh
• children with disabilities
• family members
• government support

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all participants for their valuable time.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The first author received funding from the Queen Elizabeth Advanced Scholars Network for Equity in Maternal and Child Health (QES-AS). However, the funder did not have any influence in writing and publishing this paper.