Assessment of its compliance with the standards of the handicapped ramps of health care institutions in Kırıkkale province

Abstract

Aim: Disability is not just a health issue, It is a complex phenomenon that affects deeply the lives of people with disabilities in terms of health, social and psychological. Over 1 billion people globally experience disability at any level. According to data from TÜİK (2002) Turkey’s 12,29% of the population is disabled. Physical barriers to accessing health services is a significant problem. In this study, Handicapped ramps in health care facilities in kırıkkale province, were examined for legal compliance with regulations and standards. Materials and Methods: The study is of descriptive nature. All handicapped ramps in the entrances of all the health institutions were enrolled the study. 37 ramps have been investigated in 26 Health Organization. Evaluations were made on the basis of the Institute of Turkish standards (TS12576 and TS9111 standards). The ramps were evaluated for the following properties: presence and type of the ramps, the suitability of the surface, slope angle, length and height of the ramp, the handrail, the width, the platform presence/absence and suitability of the input and the output of the ramp platform, guide signs, and the warning signs, the stimulant surface. The slopes of the ramps were calculated as the percentage using the ramp’s heights and lengths. Results: In this study, there was no any ramps that conforming to standarts in terms of their all properties and measurements. Three of health institutions did not have any handicapped ramps, although they were necessary. There were no any input and output guide signs and warning signs for the visually impaired person and stimulant surface in any of the ramps. %94 of the ramps did not have drainnage channel. © GATA.