Adriana Angarita-Fonseca

Program: MSc. in Health Services Management. Universidad de Santander, Colombia
Thesis Title: Factors associated with access to physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy services in people with cerebral palsy from Bucaramanga and the metropolitan area.
Graduation year: 2013

Abstract

Objective: To describe the factors that influence access to physical rehabilitation services by the General Social Security Health System (GSSHS) among people with cerebral palsy (PCP) of Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area, 2013.
Methods: A case-control study was performed. Cases were those who were not cover by the GSSHS or those registered in the GSSS but who did not have access to physiotherapy, speech-language therapy, or occupational therapy services (hereafter rehabilitation services) in the last year. Controls were those covered by the SGSSS, who have had access to rehabilitation services at least once in the last year through the GSSHS; the expenses caused by these services should have been covered by the territorial entity. The sample included 89 cases and 91 controls aged between 0 to 60.
Results: The multivariable model showed an association between lack of access to rehabilitation services and being covered by the subsidized health-care scheme or being poor without social security, having filed a legal action for protection (acción de tutela), having received between 5 to 15 rehabilitation sessions in the last week, delaying in the appointment assignment, being independent (not requiring help). There was an interaction between income and transportation (OR= 0.31; IC95% 0.12, 0.77).
Conclusion: Our findings show the inequity in access to rehabilitation services that people with cerebral palsy face in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
Supervisor: Adriana Angarita-Fonseca