Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40346645›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2025

Access barriers to healthcare services among the Fulani population in Ghana: a qualitative study in the Sissala East Municipality.

Richard Abeiku Bonney, Daniel Opoku, Kofi Akohene Mensah, John Humphrey Amuasi, Ebenezer Dassah, Benjamin Obukowho Emikpe, Ruth Waitzberg

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Richard Abeiku BonneyeHealth Research Partner Group (eHRPG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. bonneyrichy123@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9352-9928
Daniel OpokueHealth Research Partner Group (eHRPG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. daniel.opoku@tu-berlin.de.
Kofi Akohene MensaheHealth Research Partner Group (eHRPG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
John Humphrey AmuasiSchool of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Ebenezer DassahSchool of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Benjamin Obukowho EmikpeGerman-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Ruth WaitzbergDepartment of Health Care Management, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

eHealth Research Partner Group (eHRPG) Grant No.: 01DG20020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccess to healthcare services is at the center of every health system. Research to understand access to healthcare services for the Fulani in Ghana is limited. Efforts have mainly focused on the confrontations between the Fulani herders and the communities. The study aimed to explore what access barriers exist among the Fulani vulnerable population in Ghana; this will contribute to the understanding of access to healthcare services for a vulnerable population, who are also prone to possible transmission of diseases from human-animal connections, and requiring global health interventions.

methodsThis is an explorative study using qualitative methods to investigate how the Fulani population access healthcare services in the Sissala East Municipality, Ghana. From 17 to 30 September 2022, interviews were conducted using an interview guide among 11 individuals sampled purposively based on the criteria that, the individual is a Fulani or healthcare professional, resides in and around the study area, and is 18 years or older. Thematic content analysis was used for the analysis.

resultsContrary to the widely held view of the Fulani population being typically conservative, they displayed positive healthcare-seeking behavior and acceptance of modern healthcare services. And despite their nomadic lifestyle, physical accessibility of healthcare services has not been a challenge given that they can even reach a health facility via mobile phones (mHealth) as well as via other means of transport (e.g., motor bike). However, access barriers to healthcare are influenced mainly by financial constraints and gender roles. They rely on health insurance for healthcare coverage, but co-payments and difficulties in enrollment pose serious healthcare affordability challenges. They require access to health information to improve their knowledge on health-related issues as well.

conclusionThis study reveals that the main barrier to healthcare access among the Fulani is affordability and gender-specific roles. However, they are also utilizing innovative mobile technologies to assist in seeking healthcare against the potential barrier of their nomadic lifestyle. Community engagement and policy measures to improve the coverage of the national health insurance scheme are required to improve healthcare access among the Fulani vulnerable population.

Indexed as

Health Services AccessibilityPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultFemaleGhanaHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchVulnerable PopulationsYoung AdultAccessBarriersFulaniHealthcareMigrationNomadsVulnerable

Identifiers

PMID40346645
PMCPMC12065350

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.