Factors influence to utilize the available service of speech & language therapy for the children with communication difficulties in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Speech and language therapy is a clinical based and scientifically practices oriented therapeutic intervention in all over the world. In consideration the scientific validity, the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh to implements the Speech and language therapy for the patient with communication difficulties. A standard service always demands to measure its implementation components thus will be helpful to identify the barriers and access of service utilizations for further initiative. Due to insufficient service utilization, the study is aimed to identify the influencing factor to utilize the available speech and language therapy service for the children with communication difficulties. This study was a cross sectional analysis consists of 152 respondents who are the parents or caregiver attend pediatric out patients for at least four consecutive sessions. This study showed significant challenges for service utilization are distance from the therapy service centre (likelyhood ratio p.000), financial problem to afford speech therapy service (p.000), unavailable appointment, long waiting time (49.3%) Besides that perceived quality of speech therapy service found highly quality full (58.6%). However 60.5% respondent believes that lack of awareness were responsible for delayed improvement of the child. The result interpreted in terms of influencing factors to utilize the existing speech therapy service which could be a potential resource for the service providers, policy makers to consider in order in improving the speech therapy service quality that ultimately helps to complete the treatment and successful rehabilitation. Key word: Speech and language therapy, influencing factor, utilization of service, communication difficulties.