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Migrants face several unmet health needs due to the inability of the healthcare system to address their healthcare challenges. As a result, they adopt coping strategies to overcome their healthcare needs. Consequences can include infrequent but severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, incorrect dosage etc. Little is known in Ghana about the role played by cultural and linguistic barriers in shaping migrants' access to formal healthcare and the coping mechanisms adopted by these migrants to overcome their healthcare challenges. Surprisingly, most of the studies that have been conducted have focused on financial barriers to care accessibility. This presents a loss opportunity for any health programme aimed at addressing this inequity. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by exploring the challenges of healthcare accessibility and coping strategies adopted by migrants to overcome their healthcare needs in the informal urban settlement of Madina, in the Greater Accra Region. The author employed a narrative type of qualitative research design. A purposive and then snowball sampling technique were used to select 20 participants to participate in the study after saturation was reached. Twelve in‐depth interviews (IDIs) and six key informants' interviews (KIIs), as well as two focus group discussions (FGDs), were conducted. The study is consistent with the ecological model, which posits that health is determined by influences at multiple levels. The author found linguistic, cultural, stigmatisation and financial challenges as the main barriers to healthcare accessibility among the migrants. As a result, self‐medication and the use of lay health personnel for addressing healthcare needs were more pronounced. The study also found other means of survival that posed a health risk to the migrants. Based on this, it was recommended that healthcare systems take into account the healthcare needs of migrants who are people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although healthy life expectancy is projected to be increasing among older people in Ghana, a high proportion and number of older people will live with functional disability, warranting their need for long‐term care. We explored the expressions used by older people to describe their needs and preference of care and support. Using the descriptive qualitative approach, 14 older people were engaged via semi‐structured interviews, and the data were analysed thematically. The study found that older people desired a decent accommodation, preferential healthcare, adequate nutrition, and an opportunity to interact with their peers at social functions. A provision of sufficient financial assistance, adequate healthcare, the periodic organisation of social and group events for older people, and the availability of home care and support could help older people address these needs. The paper reveals the need for interventional research on how a model incorporating social, health and environmental factors even during a pandemic can address older people's varying needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a growing burden of stroke in low‐middle‐income countries, research on patient's experiences and access to rehabilitation services remains limited. This study explores the experiences of stroke patients in relation to access and use of stroke rehabilitation services, coping strategies and strategies to improve care in Ghana. A cross‐sectional study was conducted. A total of 136 adult stroke patients hospitalised and subsequently discharged in three major referral hospitals in Ghana participated in the study. A paper‐based questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were inputted into STATA version 12, cleaned and analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi‐Square tests. Findings showed that stroke patients experience stroke differently. Early detection (awareness) of stroke symptoms at onset was low (29.4%). Hypertension was the major (58.1%) predisposing risk factor for stroke, followed by diabetes (14.7%). Multiple barriers impede access to outpatient rehabilitation services: high cost of medications (43.4%), transportation constraints (10.3%), long waiting time (6.6%), forgetfulness about appointment (4.4%), limited education on rehabilitation (20.6%), lack of community support (12.5%) and ineffective communication with healthcare providers (5.2%). Recommended strategies to improve access to rehabilitation care included public education on stroke and its associated risk, reduction in the cost of drugs and increased stroke rehabilitation funding by the NHIS, especially for physiotherapy consultation and training support to caregivers on patient care. Given the difference in stroke experience and barriers in accessing rehabilitation care, multi‐level health policy and service delivery reforms are needed to improve access to rehabilitation care, including national public awareness campaigns on early signs of stroke and subsidised cost of stroke rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]