{"title":"Understanding the value of rehabilitation: Perspectives from South African Stakeholders","authors":"Rentia A. Maart, D. Ernstzen, G. Mji, L. Morris","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1406","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1406","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The need for rehabilitation in South Africa has doubled between 1990 and 2017 and is expected to increase in the coming years. However, the rehabilitation needs of South Africans (and globally) remain largely unmet. Establishing a common understanding of the value of rehabilitation can inform clinical practice and policymaking to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).Objectives: This study aims to explore the value of rehabilitation services in South Africa’s public healthcare sector by gathering perspectives from stakeholders. The goal is to inform policy decisions related to the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa.Method: The study used a phenomenological approach and interpretivist paradigm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face, online, or telephonically with 12 stakeholders from various rehabilitation sectors. The value of rehabilitation was analysed and categorised into five main categories: context, service delivery, patient outcomes, economic and financial components, and collaboration within and between sectors.Results: The value of rehabilitation was found to be multifaceted, because of the varying health, economic, and social challenges faced by many South Africans.Conclusion: The study identified components of value-based rehabilitation that should be prioritised in the proposed NHI of South Africa. Future research should explore all stakeholder perspectives, including patients, and provide empirical evidence of rehabilitation’s economic and societal value.Contribution: We highlight priority areas that are central to the value of rehabilitation in South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Tailoring rehabilitation services to patient and community needs is crucial for achieving value-based care. Given South Africa’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, prioritising rehabilitation remains essential.","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141822615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Hanass-Hancock, Ayanda Nzuza, S. Willan, Thesandree Padayachee, M. Machisa, Bradley Carpenter
{"title":"Livelihoods of young women with and without disabilities in KwaZulu-Natal during COVID-19","authors":"J. Hanass-Hancock, Ayanda Nzuza, S. Willan, Thesandree Padayachee, M. Machisa, Bradley Carpenter","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1400","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Persons with disabilities are more likely to have poorer livelihood outcomes, including food insecurity. Inequalities are heightened for young women with disabilities, especially in times of crisis.Objectives: To understand the livelihood experience of young South African women with and without disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).Method: We conducted a longitudinal study with 72 young women with and without disabilities enrolled in tertiary institutions in eThekwini, South Africa. We undertook a series of in-depth interviews collecting quantitative and qualitative data, prompting participants’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, including living arrangements, impact on education, access to resources and food security.Results: Participants reported livelihood changes related to living arrangements, education, income, and social connectedness during the pandemic. Social grants (old-age pension, child support, disability grant) and student stipends were critical financial resources to ensure food security. Participants with disabilities were more likely to experience food insecurities and moderate hunger, with their households having less access to mitigating resources such as land or livestock. Deaf participants also reported social isolation.Conclusion: The study shows that social protection mechanisms mitigated the financial impact of the lockdown for all recipients but that participants with disabilities still struggled more than others to ensure food security. These additional challenges may be related to pre-existing inequalities, with participants with disabilities and their households having less access to natural resources and financial stability.Contribution: This paper focuses on young women with and without disabilities and provides insight into the similarities and differences in their experiences.","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141821434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Accommodating persons with communication disabilities in court: Perspectives of law students","authors":"J. Bornman, Dianah Msipa","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1385","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1385","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Individuals with communication disabilities encounter obstacles in attaining equal access to justice compared to others. Despite experiencing widespread violence and abuse, they come across as challenges in seeking remedies through the legal system. One barrier is the lack of awareness among legal practitioners regarding suitable accommodations that would facilitate effective participation in court for individuals with communication disabilities.Objectives: This study explores the awareness of final-year law students concerning court accommodations available for individuals with communication disabilities, allowing them to testify in a South African court. The findings can serve as inspiration for expanding the current curriculum for law students.Method: This qualitative study used a modified six-step nominal group technique whereby participants (six law students identified through snowball sampling) generated, discussed and reached a consensus on accommodations needed by individuals with communication disabilities, enabling them to provide testimony in court. Data were analysed using thematic analysis principles.Results: The study found that although participants had not received any instruction on disability rights, access to justice or court accommodations during their legal training at the undergraduate level, they were able to perceive and learn about four main types of court accommodations for persons with communication disabilities to enable their testimony.Conclusion: Final-year law students are aware of court accommodations despite not having received formal instruction in disability law.Contribution: The inclusion of disability rights and court accommodations is recommended at the undergraduate level to ensure that when in practice, lawyers have knowledge on ensuring access to justice for persons with communication disabilities.","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141667071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"'I'm proud of my son with CP': Cerebral palsy caregivers' experiences, Gauteng province.","authors":"Faith Maronga-Feshete, Sonti Pilusa, Abigail Dreyer","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1357","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1357","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) are critical in the survival and well-being of their children. Despite the caregivers' particularly demanding responsibilities, literature on their experiences is limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study explored the caregivers' experiences of providing care to children with CP.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>An explorative qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews was employed. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed guided by Colaizzi's seven-step methodology.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two themes emerged: the challenges in caregiving and positive experiences of providing care. Caregivers faced financial, psychological, social and physical challenges such as stigmatisation, a lack of work accommodations, time constraints due to demands of providing care, strained family relations, isolation, exclusion, emotional and physical exhaustion in their caregiving role. Despite the challenges, they also had fulfilling, positive experiences. Caregivers became more resilient, some relationships were strengthened and awareness of the CP condition increased over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Caring for a child with CP is challenging. Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability; therefore, a holistic, long-term perspective to supporting caregivers is necessary to ensure they can care for their children adequately.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>There is a need for various support structures for caregivers to lessen the burden of care. It is necessary to establish the relationships between the support structures available and the way that these structures are viewed and consequently utilised by the caregivers. This study highlights the experiences and needs of caregivers to inform stakeholders on intervention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11219972/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141499297","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}
Charlotte Slome, Myrna van Pinxteren, Leslie London
{"title":"Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 response measures on Deaf adults in Cape Town.","authors":"Charlotte Slome, Myrna van Pinxteren, Leslie London","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1371","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>International literature has evidenced that Deaf people have been disadvantaged during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there is currently little research published within the South African context.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study investigated the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent response measures impacted Deaf adults in Cape Town.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Using a descriptive approach, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were held with 15 Deaf adults in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants were purposively selected through a local Deaf organisation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data revealed the challenges experienced when accessing information, the impact of communication barriers on daily life, and how the response measures impacted access to healthcare.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this study demonstrate how the needs of the Deaf community were overlooked and their voices disregarded during the planning of the national pandemic response, ultimately having detrimental consequences. Therefore, the authors argue for greater inclusion of Deaf representatives to ensure equal access to information and resources, especially during a crisis.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the field of disability and insights can inform both future research and interventions to promote equity and inclusion for Deaf people.</p>","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11219557/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141499298","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}
M. Kwarteng, Kathutshelo P. Mashige, S. Kyei, P. Govender-Poonsamy, Daniel S. Q. Dogbe
{"title":"Compliance with spectacle wear among learners with hearing impairment in Ghana","authors":"M. Kwarteng, Kathutshelo P. Mashige, S. Kyei, P. Govender-Poonsamy, Daniel S. Q. Dogbe","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1314","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Hearing-impaired learners with refractive problems require correction because poor vision hinders their development and educational pursuits.Objectives: To determine the level of compliance with spectacle wear in learners with hearing impairment in Ghana.Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to investigate the level of compliance with spectacle wear in hearing-impaired learners with uncorrected refractive errors (URE). The participants were from six schools for the hearing impaired, comprising three schools from each sector (Northern and Southern) of Ghana.Results: Of the 1914 learners screened, 69 (3.61% CI: 2.82–4.54%) had URE. Sixty-two (89.9%) learners with URE had myopia (-0.50 Dioptre Sphere (DS) to -2.00DS), and 7 (10.1%) had hyperopia (+2.00DS to +10.00DS). There were more females (53.6%) with URE than males, and their ages ranged from 8 to 35 years, with a mean of 17.35 ± 5.19 years. Many (56.5%) learners complied with spectacle wear after 3 months of reassessment, with females being more compliant than males, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.544). Learners who complied well with the spectacle wear were those with moderate visual impairment (VI), followed by mild VI, while those with no VI were the least compliant. A significant difference was observed between spectacle compliance and presenting VI (p = 0.023).Conclusion: The spectacle wear compliance level was high compared to a previous study (33.7%) in Ghana.Contribution: This study highlights the importance of addressing URE among learners with hearing impairment in Ghana and Africa.","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141348975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brigitte J. Clark, W. Holness, Ruth T. Nyamadzawo, Dennis Moogi
{"title":"School of Law, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Action for Children with Disabilities, Nairobi,","authors":"Brigitte J. Clark, W. Holness, Ruth T. Nyamadzawo, Dennis Moogi","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1326","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The immediate implementation of early childhood education (ECE) for children with disabilities in South Africa and Kenya has been impeded by obstacles. Major gaps in implementation remain. We investigate, firstly, the widely held, but in our view fallacious, belief that the implementation of inclusive ECE can be progressively realised only when there are available resources. Secondly, we examine the other fallacious belief that children with severe and profound intellectual disabilities are ineducable, and thirdly, the belief that the provision of inclusive ECE is merely a regulatory governmental function, implying that accessibility and reasonable accommodation requirements for children with disabilities do not rest primarily on the state.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the gaps in both countries between the policies and legislation and effective implementation, to show that these gaps are exacerbated by the perpetuation of these fallacious beliefs and by information vacuums at governmental level.Method: A critical analysis of inclusive ECE was undertaken on relevant law and policy processes in both countries to expose both governments’ reasons for their lack of effective implementation of inclusive ECE.Results: The factors contributing to the lack of immediate and significant implementation of inclusive ECE for children with disabilities in both countries have been investigated.Conclusion: Accountability and transparency need to be implemented at the governance level to ensure that both governments fully implement and prioritise inclusive ECE.Contribution: This article establishes that mistaken premises and information vacuums may be used by governments in an attempt to renege on their international and constitutional obligations to implement inclusive ECE.","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141000510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study","authors":"Elizabeth O. George, Ruth L. Bartlett","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1338","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Research on the lived experience of dementia is burgeoning across the social and health sciences. Yet, very little is still known about the experience of dementia for many tribes and ethnoreligious groups, as most studies are conducted in Western countries.Objective: The aim is to advance the understanding of the role of faith and prayer in the lives of people with dementia in Nigeria through a lens of everyday citizenship.Method: Interviews were conducted with 17 older people with dementia in a low-income, Yoruba-speaking community in Southwestern Nigeria. After transcription, the data were analysed thematically.Results: The major theme identified in participants’ accounts was that prayer served as a space for active and agentic participation. This theme was further elaborated upon through four subthemes: (1) agency in routine and daily prayer, (2) cognitive (re)framing through prayer, (3) prayer as a vehicle for active social interaction and support, and (4) prayer as work and transaction.Conclusion: Participants described religious practices as important to their acceptance of the situations, their feelings of hope in everyday lives, and their connection and contributions to the community. Analysis also shows the centrality of relationality in the everyday experiences of people with dementia.Contribution: This article contributes to advancing the understanding of the socially orientated everyday experience of dementia. It contributes to a small body of literature on the social aspect and everyday experiences of living with dementia in Africa and stands out as the first of its kind study in Nigeria.","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140359540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mapping disability and climate change knowledge base in Scopus using bibliometric analysis","authors":"Tawanda Makuyana, K. Dube","doi":"10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1339","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Climate change and disability are rarely addressed by academic scholars within the spectrum of disabilities and as a single field of study. However, the intersectionality of disability exacerbates the vulnerability of people with disabilities to climate change as climate change frameworks in the Global North and South continue excluding them.Objectives: This study aims to map the research-based knowledge housed in Scopus on disability and climate change. At the same time, it provides insights into innovative (novelty) ways of thinking and proposes a futuristic research agenda.Method: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on Scopus-indexed articles using VOSviewer to map co-occurrences of keywords and co-authorship, and a manual thematic-scoping review augmented the data analysis.Results: The disability and climate change debate as a joint study evolved from concern among health practitioners to human rights and social inclusion.Conclusion: In conclusion, there is a skewness towards mental health and medical sociology lens, while other sub-groups of persons with disabilities are yet to be engaged in co-creating disability-inclusive climate change knowledge.Contribution: Thematic areas emerged as gaps that future studies embed principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals.","PeriodicalId":45606,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Disability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140213302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}