African Journal of Disability最新文献

{"title":"How can you be a doctor? Ableism in the workplace.","authors":"Sarah N Whitehead, Seyi L Amosun, Theresa Lorenzo, Harsha Kathard","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1588","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1588","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1588"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing person-centred care: Speech-language pathologists and audiologists perspective.","authors":"Faheema Mahomed-Asmail, Louise Metcalfe, Marien A Graham, Renata Eccles","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1589","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1589","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Person-centred care (PCC) is a fundamental aspect of healthcare, and its implementation is primarily based on clinicians' initiation and sustained efforts and the availability of resources. Recent PCC literature has primarily focused on high-income settings, raising concerns about the feasibility of PCC implementation in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study examined speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) and audiologists' (AUDs) perceptions of barriers and facilitators towards implementing PCC in the diverse South African context, particularly how their demographic factors influence these perceptions.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A national cross-sectional e-survey pooled 103 clinicians who were providing speech-language pathology and audiological services in South Africa. The e-survey included questions on participants' demographics, working environment and a seven-point Likert scale rating 10 components that influence PCC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Clinicians scored personal factors (64.7%), followed by their relationships with different professionals (54.9%) as the most facilitating factors for achieving PCC. The most significant perceived barrier was resources, including time and finances (59.8%), followed by the client perspectives (53.9%). Significant associations were found between the components influencing PCC and clinicians' qualifications, work sectors and populations served.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The collective findings of this study highlighted the multifaceted nature of PCC implementation within a diverse healthcare context. Client perspectives need to be considered while leveraging clinician attributes and fostering supportive workplace environments for the successful adoption of PCC.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study contributes to literature of PCC implementation and has captured how the perceptions of speech-language therapists (SLPs) and AUDs call for tailored approaches in diverse healthcare contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1589"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966724/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Care perspectives: Mothers of children with disabilities in a peri-urban setting in South Africa.","authors":"Marcia A Torres, Chioma O Ohajunwa","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1463","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Within lower- to middle-income countries, mothers of children with disabilities often bear the burden of caregiving for their children, and experience various familial, systemic, structural and sociocultural challenges to the fulfilment of this role.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This article discusses the barriers and enablers to caregiving experienced by mothers of children with disabilities living in a peri-urban setting in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A qualitative study using in-depth interviews was implemented with six mothers of children with disabilities, recruited through total population sampling. Interviews were conducted in three South African languages - English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans. The interviews were translated, transcribed and analysed thematically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Key challenges experienced in care giving include poverty, a sense of abandonment and communal stigma. Despite the challenges, the mothers identify spirituality and empathetic healthcare workers as a support for caregiving.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mothers of children with disabilities experience isolation and stigmatisation, are often alienated from accessing community structures on an equal basis with others, creating a barrier to caregiving for these mothers. An inclusive and targeted approach is needed to raise awareness and create peer support groups for mothers of children with disabilities.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>A sense of isolation, financial challenges and familial abandonment are significant challenges for mothers of children with disabilities, but they find strength in spirituality. Spiritual belief systems and collaboration with community and spiritual leaders are advocated for ongoing communal support for mothers of children with disabilities. An inclusive, authentic intersectoral collaboration is needed to enhance caregiving capacity for mothers of children with disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1463"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966728/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does life expectancy vary by disability status in LMICs?: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Desta Debalkie Atnafu, Femke Bannink Mbazzi, Mezgebu Yitayal, Hannah Kuper","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1514","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1514","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People with disabilities on average experience health care barriers, poorer health and higher mortality.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to review and synthesise life expectancy (LE) and years of life lost (YLL) comparing people with disabilities to those without in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic review was conducted across six databases. Longitudinal studies with a comparator group that measured LE in or YLL between people with and without disabilities in LMICs were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Meta-analyses were undertaken using R 4.3.3. The study assessed heterogeneity with I² and publication bias with a funnel plot. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses were performed, and the risk of bias was evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve full-text articles were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled mean LE was lower in people with disabilities (57.98 years; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 53.40-62.95) compared with people without disabilities (70.86 years; 95% CI: 64.06-78.38). The overall weighted years of YLL in people with disabilities was 15.84 years (95% CI: 11.1-22.61). There was no significant difference in YLL between men (16.33 years; 95% CI: 11.49-23.21) and women (13.7 years; 95% CI: 8.45-22.22).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The average LE in people with disabilities was substantially lower compared to those without disabilities in LMICs. This inequity highlights that health systems and public health efforts are failing to meet the needs of people with disabilities and must be improved to become more inclusive.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>The study emphasises the need for inclusive policies and robust research in the health system to address health disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1514"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966715/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Collaboration for the inclusion of students with disabilities in education in Gondar, Ethiopia.","authors":"Mikyas Abera, Grace L Francis, Ansha N Ahmed, Solomon Dawud, Mohammedsani Ali, Gebrekidan Shibabaw, Bilen M Araya, Shana J Haines, Heather M Aldersey","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1569","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1569","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Ethiopia, children with disabilities face significant barriers to education, which are exacerbated for those living in remote villages and areas affected by conflict and insecurity. Several studies have highlighted the important role that sustained multistakeholder collaborations could play in removing barriers to inclusive education, supporting students with disabilities and helping countries like Ethiopia achieve inclusion.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study explored stakeholders' strategies and the programmes and support they provide to schools or students with disabilities (K-12) to promote inclusive education in the central Gondar zone, Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study used key informant interviews to collect detailed information on education stakeholders' collaborations to support the inclusion of children with disabilities. The interviewees include experts, administrators and policymakers from purposively selected governmental and civil society organisations and schools.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study found that collaboration focused on promoting accessibility, students enrolment and retention, financial, material and medical support, capacity-building, and institutional accountability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study concluded that persistent instability and conflict hindered stakeholders' collaborative efforts in the region. It also argued that structured or semi-structured collaborations are more effective for promoting inclusive education.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This article presents research findings on collaboration among educational stakeholders to promote inclusive schools and support students with disabilities. Its holistic approach identifies ecological and institutional factors that affect collaborations for inclusion, as well as the support and services that could be further explored in future research. Additionally, it highlights the lessons that education programmes could use to enhance community and stakeholder participation in school inclusivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1569"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966729/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Equitable access to digital higher education for students with disabilities in South Africa.","authors":"Johannes N Zongozzi, Sindile A Ngubane","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1525","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1525","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The growing reliance on digital learning in South Africa, partly because of the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 4IR technologies, risks excluding students with disabilities (SwDs) if measures to adequately support them are not in place.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aims to identify gaps in knowledge, policies, practices and resources, which could impede the full engagement of SwDs. This article utilises the conceptual framework for inclusive digital learning, which comprises three categories of concepts related to inclusive digital learning: (1) defining attributes, (2) antecedents (necessary conditions) and (3) consequences (results). The framework is applied to synthesise the literature, determine the framework's efficacy, feasibility, and suitability, and demonstrate its value and utility in the actual implementation of inclusive and high-quality higher education for SwDs in South Africa during this era of digital learning.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study reviewed 22 articles (2020-2023) on disabilities, higher education, and digital learning identified through Google Scholar using Boolean operators.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study reveals significant gaps in South African higher education research on institutional policies related to digital access, capacity development, and disability inclusion in teaching and curriculum design.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The challenges facing SwDs and the existing research gaps imply that most higher education institutions lack the theoretical knowledge, policies, resources, infrastructure and staff capacity to support SwDs.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study exposes gaps in the literature and recommends further research on higher education policies and to establish the potential for policy reform to better support SwDs in the current era of digital learning.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1525"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886551/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Successful self-employment in microenterprise for persons with disabilities in a rural setting.","authors":"Luther L Monareng, Mogammad S Soeker, Deshini Naidoo","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1564","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1564","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Persons with disabilities are involved in self-employment (vocational rehabilitation) in microenterprises despite key role players not making valuable contributions or using self-employment as a placement option.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This research aimed to explore profitable self-employment microenterprises for persons with disabilities in rural South Africa.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This qualitative research study was conducted in a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 10 persons with disabilities running profitable microenterprises for an average of 5 years each. Data were collected using a piloted question guide in a face-to-face interview. Thematic analysis followed the hybrid inductive and deductive approaches.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Persons with disabilities participated, and 9 out of 10 were males. Two themes emerged. Theme one: Running microenterprises - self-initiated and maintained. They use their hands and minds to start microenterprises that benefit them and their families. Theme two: Multiple key role players should be involved in self-employment. Persons with disabilities perceive various key role players and themselves as having an active role in self-employment to benefit their microenterprises.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Persons with disabilities in a rural setting engage in successful self-employment in microenterprises, which they self-initiate and maintain. Roles and responsibilities of persons with disabilities and key role players in and outside the hospital setting are crucial for those in self-employment.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This research generated contextual data towards the under-researched subject on self-employment for persons with disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1564"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886568/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers, facilitators of sports participation and needs of South African Paralympians.","authors":"Siyabonga H Kunene","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1532","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1532","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the transformation initiatives, the inclusion of people with disabilities in sports remains a challenge. Athletes with disabilities (AWDs) in low- and medium-socioeconomic countries are still being left behind, including in South Africa. They are facing various challenges.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to sports participation and the needs of AWDs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a qualitative study design based on semi-structured interviews. Interviews were conducted with South African Paralympians. Permission was obtained from a physical disability association. Ethical clearance was issued by the University of the Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee. An interview schedule with predetermined questions was used to guide the interviews. Interviews were held face-to-face or online from 20 min to 30 min per interview. All participants gave consent. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed in themes deductively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 23 athletes participated, 12 of which were females and 11 were males. Participants were mostly Africans (<i>n</i> = 23) with a mean age of 26 years. All had over 5 years of sporting experience. Barriers included: Social stigma, a lack of disability awareness, limited opportunities to participate in sports; limited access to resources and services. Facilitators included: health; belonging; fulfilment, winning, and support from loved ones.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results showed a need to scale up disability inclusion, especially regarding the rendering of healthcare services and making resources available.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This article provides knowledge that may be useful as a baseline for developing a suitable intervention for AWDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1532"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886555/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring and addressing violence against women with disabilities in Africa.","authors":"Clifford Odimegwu, Obasanjo A Bolarinwa, Yusuff Adebisi","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1576","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1576","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Violence against women with disabilities (VAWDs) in Africa is a significant issue, with women facing higher risks of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. However, data on VAWD are scarce, hindering effective policy development. Challenges include the lack of disaggregated data by sex and disability, methodological gaps and the absence of culturally relevant measurement tools. Common tools such as the Washington Group Short Set on Functioning often miss important nuances. To improve data accuracy, integrating comprehensive disability measures into national surveys and developing context-specific tools are essential. Accurate data are crucial for creating policies to reduce violence and protect women with disabilities in Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1576"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886545/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stigma reduction in a disability and mental health programme in Ghana: Lessons in participation.","authors":"Maria Zuurmond, Augustina Naami, Lyla Adwan-Kamara, Cathy Stephen, Sapana Basnet, Caroline Vanderick, Mohammed Chantimah, Abigail Nana Asamoah, Daisy Macdonald, Crick Lund","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1508","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1508","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stigma is a barrier to inclusion for people with disabilities and mental health conditions. There is increasing recognition of the need to address stigma within disability inclusive programmes, but limited research is available on what are effective participatory approaches to stigma reduction interventions.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>(1) To document participatory approaches used in the design and delivery of disability stigma reduction interventions in a disability and mental health programme in Ghana and (2) to understand the experience of programme implementers and participants in these processes, with particular attention to the leadership and involvement of people with disabilities.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A mixed-methods study was conducted. The data were drawn from a purposive sample of 20 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with programme staff, partners and key stakeholders, and 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with self-help group (SHG) members, organisation of people with disabilities (OPD) members, and disability champions. We conducted thematic analysis using deductive and inductive approaches.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The programme adopted several approaches to participation at design and implementation stages, with a focus on the leadership of people with disabilities and people with mental health conditions. The process was seen to promote acceptability of stigma reduction approaches. Providing opportunities for building and strengthening relationships with a wide range of stakeholders was key to successful implementation. Understanding, and engaging with, power dynamics in the local context also provided important benefits.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Participation of people with disabilities and mental health conditions is essential for the design and delivery of stigma reduction programmes in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study provided lessons from the field on the value of participation in reducing stigma, and the role of key stakeholders, particularly people with disabilities and mental health conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":"14 ","pages":"1508"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11830834/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}