Exploring Community Health Services for People with Disabilities: An Ethnographic Qualitative Study

Background: Living with a disability often limits individuals’ access to essential healthcare services. Despite this pressing issue, few studies have examined the specific characteristics of community health services needed by People with Disabilities (PWD). This study aims to explore community health services for PWD in the northern region of Thailand. Methods: An ethnographic approach was used to investigate community health services for PWD. A total of 65 informants were selected through purposive sampling, including PWD, family members, healthcare personnel, community leaders, local administrative organization (LAO) officers, volunteers, neighbors, and relatives. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis conducted between July 2023 and August 2024. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The research identified three main themes related to community health services: (1) self-care including beliefs, cultural wisdom, and Thai traditional medicine; (2) health services—including primary healthcare, rehabilitation, emergency and referral services, long-term care, palliative care, Thai traditional medicine, and volunteer support; and (3) supportive systems, including data management, public services, welfare, and mutual assistance.