Persons with disabilities living in rural areas of Bangladesh: an exploration of their mental health and experiences in accessing support during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a major public health challenge across the world, including in Bangladesh. Little scholarly work has explored the mental health experiences of persons with disabilities in rural areas of Bangladesh during the pandemic. A qualitative case study was conducted in the rural areas of Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Narsingdi. A total of 13 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with persons with disabilities and 13 key informant interviews (KIIs) with different stakeholders and caregivers were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed five major themes: lockdown-induced mental health problems, including fear of infection, symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep disturbance, suicidal ideation, and domestic violence; perceived attitude towards mental health issues, including stigma and discrimination; perceived vulnerability was observed in relation to gender, age, and type of disability; barriers to seeking mental health care including distance, financial burden, and indifference towards mental health care; and finally, availability of mental health care which reaffirms a lack of mental health care in rural areas. The findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health into the primary healthcare system with a focus on persons with disabilities to minimise mental health repercussions during times of emergency.