A Study to Analyse the Present Scenario of Barrier Free Access at Primary Healthcare Centres of Gwalior Smart City
Abstract
Background: Barrier- free access is very important for people with disabilities (PwD). Objectives: The main objective of the current study focuses on analyzing the present situation in 15 disability prepared Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the Smart City Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, India. Methods: During the present research, a live accessibility audit was carried out on site by preparing a questionnaire before the direct audit and was divided into four categories of functional space, namely (i) Parking area and external access, (ii) Barrier-free entrance and internal atmosphere, (iii) Doors and openings, & (iv) Proper toilets. Field data, in the form of primary and secondary data, is analyzed for frequency and percentage, and the necessary statistical analysis is carried out. As far as the results are concerned, it was found that access to building space depends on the inclusiveness of its external conditions, direction taken and progress in urban areas have many limitations and needs. Results: The findings show that ease of accessibility for the elderly and disabled varies across functional spaces and there is an urgent need to improve this situation. Current research indicates that there is a great need for a holistic approach that can be used to design and plan smart urban settlements to create sustainable and accessible built environments. Conclusion: It can be concluded that all Community Health Centre areas and buildings need to provide a more accessible and barrier-free environment that can meet the demands of a wider range of users, including the elderly and disabled.
Keywords:
Access Audit, Inclusivity, Primary Health Care Centres, Smart City
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References
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Zhang, J., Sun, X., & Yao, A. (2024). Use of primary healthcare among chinese older adults with functional limitations. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 43(2), 149-159. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231205404
Addas, A. (2023). The concept of smart cities: a sustainability aspect for future urban development based on different cities. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1241593
Bello, A. O., Okanlawon, T. T., Wuni, I. Y., Arogundade, S., & Oyewobi, L. O. (2024). Exploring the nexus between the barriers and drivers for sustainable smart cities in developing countries: The case of Nigeria. Sustainable Development, 32(4), 4097-4113. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2861
Bjørner, T. (2021). The advantages of and barriers to being smart in a smart city: The perceptions of project managers within a smart city cluster project in Greater Copenhagen. Cities, 114, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103187
Breton, M., Sullivan, E. E., Deville-Stoetzel, N., McKinstry, D., DePuccio, M., Sriharan, A., ... & McAlearney, A. S. (2021). Telehealth challenges during COVID-19 as reported by primary healthcare physicians in Quebec and Massachusetts. (2021). BMC Family Practice, 22, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01543-4
Del-Real, C., Ward, C., & Sartipi, M. (2023). What do people want in a smart city? Exploring the stakeholders’ opinions, priorities and perceived barriers in a medium-sized city in the United States. International Journal of Urban Sciences, 27(sup1), 50-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2021.1968939
Di Napoli, A., Ventura, M., Spadea, T., Giorgi Rossi, P., Bartolini, L., Battisti, L., ... & Petrelli, A. (2022). Barriers to accessing primary care and appropriateness of healthcare among immigrants in Italy. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.817696
Fernández-Díaz, E., Jambrino-Maldonado, C., Iglesias-Sánchez, P. P., & de las Heras-Pedrosa, C. (2023). Digital accessibility of smart cities-tourism for all and reducing inequalities: tourism agenda 2030. Tourism Review, 78(2), 361-380. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/TR-02-2022-0091
Garnelo, L., Parente, R. C. P., Puchiarelli, M. L. R., Correia, P. C., Torres, M. V., & Herkrath, F. J. (2020). Barriers to access and organization of primary health care services for rural riverside populations in the Amazon. International Journal for Equity in Health, 19, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01171-x
Kolotouchkina, O., Barroso, C. L., & Sánchez, J. L. M. (2022). Smart cities, the digital divide, and people with disabilities. Cities, 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103613
Leal Sobral, V. A., Nelson, J., Asmare, L., Mahmood, A., Mitchell, G., Tenkorang, K., ... & Goodall, J. L. (2023). A cloud-based data storage and visualization tool for smart city IoT: flood warning as an example application. Smart Cities, 6(3), 1416-1434. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6030068
Li, G., Luan, T. H., Li, X., Zheng, J., Lai, C., Su, Z., & Zhang, K. (2023). Breaking down data sharing barrier of smart city: A digital twin approach. IEEE Network, 38(1), 238-246. https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.140.2200512
Moraes, S. D. Q., Paiva Neto, F. T. D., Loch, M. R., Fermino, R. C., & Rech, C. R. (2024). Características e estratégias de aconselhamento para atividade física utilizadas por profissionais da atenção primária à saúde. [Characteristics and counseling strategies for phsysical activity used by primary health care professionals]. Ciência & Saude Coletiva 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232024291.00692023
Mutambik, I. (2024). Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Smart Cities: Barriers and Strategies. Sustainability, 16(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125061
Pinto, A., Köptcke, L. S., David, R., & Kuper, H. (2021). A national accessibility audit of primary health care facilities in Brazil—are people with disabilities being denied their right to health?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062953
Reichenberger, V., Corona, A. P., Ramos, V. D., Shakespeare, T., Hameed, S., Penn-Kekana, L., & Kuper, H. (2024). Access to primary healthcare services for adults with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean: a review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46(25), 6011–6020. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2320268
Siedner, M. J., Kraemer, J. D., Meyer, M. J., Harling, G., Mngomezulu, T., Gabela, P., ... & Herbst, K. (2020). Access to primary healthcare during lockdown measures for COVID-19 in rural South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis. BMJ Open, 10(10). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043763
Ulpiani, G., Rebolledo, E., Vetters, N., Florio, P., & Bertoldi, P. (2023). Funding and financing the zero emissions journey: urban visions from the 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02055-5
Woodland, R. (2023). Aboriginal People’s Perspectives on Accessing Primary Health Care During Crises: A Case Study of the Lakes Entrance Community (Doctoral dissertation, La Trobe).https://doi.org/10.26181/25447855.v1
Wolniak, R., & Stecuła, K. (2024). Artificial intelligence in smart cities—applications, barriers, and future directions: a review. Smart Cities, 7(3), 1346-1389. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7030057
Yaroshenko, O. M., Anisimova, H. V., Koliesnik, T. V., Kaplina, H. A., & Babych, N. O. (2024). National strategy for a barrier-free environment: problems, tolerance and implementation. International Social Work, 67(1), 226-241. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221126002
Ye, P., Peng, J., Jin, Y., Duan, L., Yao, Y., Ivers, R., ... & Tian, M. (2024). Using a participatory design to develop an implementation framework for integrating falls prevention for older people within the Chinese primary health care system. BMC Geriatrics, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04754-3
Zhang, J., Sun, X., & Yao, A. (2024). Use of primary healthcare among chinese older adults with functional limitations. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 43(2), 149-159. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231205404
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How to Cite
Sharma, A., Mallick, R., Dwivedi, K. and Patil, A. (2025) “A Study to Analyse the Present Scenario of Barrier Free Access at Primary Healthcare Centres of Gwalior Smart City”, International Journal of Advancement in Life Sciences Research, 8(2), pp. 41-49. doi: https://doi.org/10.31632/ijalsr.2025.v08i02.004.
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