SPECIAL NEED PERSONS AND MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICES IN RIVERS STATE

This study examines special need persons and medical social work practices in Rivers State, with emphasis on the availability and accessibility of medical social work services, the challenges affecting effective practice, and the effectiveness of medical social work interventions in improving healthcare access and psychosocial wellbeing. The study was anchored on the Biopsychosocial Theory, which explains health and wellbeing as outcomes of the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors. A descriptive qualitative research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected through in-depth interview involving persons with special needs, and medical social workers in selected healthcare facilities in Rivers State. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants with relevant experiences. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that medical social work services are partially available but inadequately accessibility, particularly at the primary healthcare level. Major challenges identified include inadequate funding, shortage of trained medical social workers, poor disability-friendly infrastructure, weak inter-professional collaboration, socio-cultural stigma, and poor policy implementation. The study found that medical social work interventions are effective in improving healthcare access, emotional adjustment, coping abilities, and psychosocial wellbeing of persons with special needs through counseling, advocacy, and referral services. Based on the findings, the study recommends the strengthening of medical social work units across all healthcare levels, recruitment and continuous training of medical social workers, improvement of disability-inclusive infrastructure, effective implementation of disability and social welfare policies, and enhanced inter-professional collaboration and public awareness of medical social work services. The study concludes that strengthening medical social work practice is essential for promoting inclusive healthcare and improving the quality of life of persons with special needs in Rivers State.