To Speak Out Matters: Implication of Rural Road Network on Healthcare Accessibility among Residents in the Nzema East Municipality, Ghana

Road transport plays a significant role in rural healthcare accessibility and utilization. This study assessed the implication of poor rural road transport network on healthcare accessibility and utilization in Akango, Gbwira Eshiem and Ampanshie in the Nzema East Municipality of Ghana. The study employed mixed method approach using questionnaires and interviews to investigate the subject matter. A total of 253 respondents were randomly sampled for the survey and 13 were purposively selected for the interviews. Descriptive and regression analysis was used to analyze the questionnaire while thematic analysis was used to analyze the interviews. On the nature of road network linking the communities to healthcare facilities, the study found that, residents road network were muddy and slippery, had a lot of potholes, dusty during the dry season, eroded along hills, bridges randomly collapsed, and marshy areas easily got flooded. Importantly, the regression results revealed that complication of diseases, self-medication, difficulty in accessing referral services, challenge of transporting medical supplies to health facilities, difficulty of accessing maternity and childcare and the use of life-risking routes to access healthcare have a significant relationship with poor road network in the area. The study recommends the need for comprehensive and pragmatic measures to improve rural road transport network for improved healthcare.