Determining the levels of access to public services for disabled individuals and the affecting factors in rural and urban areas of Antalya province: A comparative study

The problem of disabled individuals' access to public services is more pronounced in rural areas. Therefore, comparatively determining the levels of access to public services for disabled individuals living in both urban and rural areas is important for developing rural development policies aimed at the disabled. The main purpose of the study was to determine the levels of access to basic public services and the factors affecting these levels for physically challenged, hearing impaired, and visually impaired individuals living in rural and urban areas, in the example of Antalya province. Method for Determining the Estimated Sample Size in Studies with a Known Universe Size was preferred in the determination of the disabled individuals who were surveyed and as a result of the calculations, 61 physically, 60 hearing, and 60 visually impaired individuals were interviewed face to face. In the study, Likert Scale Analysis was used to determine the levels of access to public services and Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis was used to determine the factors affecting levels of access. As a result of the study, both physically and visually impaired individuals emerged as "2. Low Access" in level of access to public services in both rural and urban areas. Hearing impaired individuals have "1. Full Access" in urban areas and "2. Low Access" in rural areas. Residing in rural or urban areas doesn't have a significant effect on the access levels of physically disabled individuals. Hearing and visually impaired individuals, residing in rural areas has a negative effect on the access levels to public services. The adjustments needed by each disability group in terms of access to public services vary. Different adjustments need to be made for each disability group. Incorporating strategies for access to public services for disabled individuals residing in rural areas into development programs will positively impact their access levels to public services.