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- Aenishänslin, Justine, et al.
(author)
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Experiences accessing and using rehabilitation services for people with physical disabilities in Sierra Leone
- 2022
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In: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 44:1, s. 34-43
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: To explore the experiences of persons with physical disabilities accessing and using rehabilitation services in Sierra Leone. Materials and methods: Interviews of 38 individuals with differing physical disabilities in three locations across Sierra Leone. An inductive approach was applied, and qualitative content analysis used. Results: Participants faced several barriers to accessing and using rehabilitation services. Six themes emerged: The initial and ongoing need for rehabilitation throughout life; challenges with the cost of rehabilitation and transportation to reach rehabilitation services; varied experiences with rehabilitation staff; coming to terms with disability and encountering stigma; the struggles without and opportunities with rehabilitation services; and limited knowledge and availability of rehabilitation services. Conclusions: There is a continued need to address the barriers associated with the affordability of rehabilitation through the financing of rehabilitation and transportation and exploring low-cost care delivery models. Rehabilitation services, assistive devices, and materials need to be available in existing rehabilitation centres. A national priority list is recommended to improve the availability and coordination of rehabilitation services. Improved knowledge about disability and rehabilitation services in the wider community is needed. Addressing discriminatory health beliefs and the stigma affecting people with disabilities through community interventions and health promotion is recommended. Implications for Rehabilitation: Financing for rehabilitation, transportation to services and low-cost delivery models of care areneeded to reduce financial barriers and increase affordability of access and use. Community interventions and health promotion can provide information about the utility and availability of rehabilitation services, while addressing health beliefs and stigma towards persons with disabilities. The availability of both rehabilitation services and information, that is relevant and accessible is required to facilitate improved access and use of rehabilitation services.
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- Alenius, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Health care professionals’ experiences and perceptions of health promotion through the health dialogue intervention in the scania region, Sweden : a qualitative interview study
- 2023
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In: BMC Primary Care. - 2731-4553. ; 24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes are among the largest public health challenges in Sweden. Research indicates that a healthy lifestyle can prevent most cases. The health dialogue is an evidence-based public health programme for primary care with positive results in several regions of Sweden. This study aimed to describe health care professionals’ experiences and perceptions of health promotion through the health dialogue intervention during the pilot phase in the Scania region of Sweden. Methods: The study consists of 12 individual interviews with health care professionals educated in the health dialogue method, implementing the intervention in Scania. Qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach was used. Results: The analysis resulted in 10 sub-categories and the four main categories: A more health-promoting mindset would benefit primary care; Empower individuals; Facilitate sustainable lifestyle changes; Challenges, tools and support for the implementation of the health dialogue. One overarching theme emerged: “Health dialogue, a potential start of a paradigm shift in Swedish primary care”. Conclusions: Conclusions imply that the health dialogue is a well-structured method with tools to make health promotion and primary prevention an integrated part of primary care. A respectful and motivating approach during the health dialogue is recommended. It is important to have an ongoing discussion about the approach among the health care professionals. Incorporating the Health Belief Model in the health care professionals’ education in the method could increase the focus on self-efficacy during counselling, which could favour the participants’ change process.
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- Andregård, Emmelie, et al.
(author)
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Experiences of attitudes in Sierra Leone from the perspective of people with poliomyelitis and amputations using orthotics and prosthetics
- 2016
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: About 73% of the population in Sierra Leone live in multidimensional poverty which makes Sierra Leone to be one of the poorest countries in the world. Sierra Leone suffered from a decade long civil war, 1991-2002, where humiliating methods were used such as machete amputations of civilians and the progress of eradicating poliomyelitis was hindered. Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe experiences of attitudes in the society of Sierra Leone from the perspective of poliomyelitis victims and people with amputations using orthotic and prosthetic devices.Methods: Individual interviews were conducted using open-ended questions. Twelve participants with polio and amputations were included. Content analysis was applied to the data.Results: The following six themes emerged during data analysis: Experience of negative attitudes; Neglected and respected by family; Traditional beliefs; The importance of assistive devices; People with disability struggle with poverty; and The need for governmental and international support. Participants experienced being discriminated in the society and the community but wanted to be treated as equals. Due to stigmatisation participants preferred living together in segregated communities. Half of the participants experienced being rejected by their families due to disability and half experienced being respected and included in their families. Traditionally the mentality in Sierra Leone was that disability is due to witchcraft. Participants experienced being more accepted in society when not being recognised as persons with disabilities and therefore preferred to use orthotics and prosthetics which also improved the possibility to walk and stand up straight. They expressed being stressed and discouraged since not being financial independent and felt forced in to begging. People with polio and amputations expect help by the government and international support to receive education and health care.Conclusions: In Sierra Leone, people with disabilities face severe discrimination. They need to be included, recognized and supported to a greater extent by the society, the community, and the family, as well as by the government and international organizations. Traditional beliefs have a negative impact on people with physical disabilities and are a cause of discrimination in Sierra Leone. Prosthetic and orthotic devices are vital for people with physical disability and offer increased dignity. Prosthetic and orthotic services need to be accessible and affordable. Poverty affects access to education, employment and health care for Sierra Leoneans with physical disabilities. They have to resort to begging to cover basic living needs.Reference: Andregård E, Magnusson L. Experiences of attitudes in Sierra Leone from the perspective of people with poliomyelitis and amputations using orthotics and prosthetics. Submitted for publication 2016.
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- Andregård, Emmelie, et al.
(author)
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Experiences of attitudes in Sierra Leone from the perspective of people with poliomyelitis and amputations using orthotics and prosthetics
- 2017
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In: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 39:26, s. 2619-2625
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe experiences of attitudes in the society of Sierra Leone from the perspective of individuals with poliomyelitis and people with amputations using orthotic or prosthetic devices. Methods: Individual interviews were conducted using open-ended questions. Twelve participants with amputations or polio were included. Content analysis was applied to the data. Results: The following six themes emerged during data analysis: Experience of negative attitudes; Neglected and respected by family; Traditional beliefs; The importance of assistive devices; People with disability struggle with poverty; and The need for governmental and international support. Conclusions: In Sierra Leone, people with disabilities face severe discrimination. They need to be included, recognized, and supported to a greater extent by the society, the community, and the family, as well as by the government and international organizations. Traditional beliefs have a negative impact on people with physical disabilities and are an important cause of discrimination in Sierra Leone. Prosthetic and orthotic devices are vital for people with physical disability and offer increased dignity. Prosthetic and orthotic services need to be accessible and affordable. Poverty affects access to education, employment, and health care for Sierra Leoneans with physical disabilities, forcing them to resort to begging to cover basic living needs.Implications for RehabilitationIn Sierra Leone, traditional beliefs related to disability and public attitudes need to change in order to protect the human rights of people with disabilities.Increased public awareness of disability and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at different levels in society is needed.To increase access to prosthetic and orthotic services in Sierra Leone, these services need to be affordable and related costs, such as transport, need to be covered by support.Increased access to education, employment, and financial support could contribute to an improved standard of living for people with physical disabilities.Governmental and international support is needed to decrease attitudinal and environmental barriers for people with disabilities in Sierra Leone.
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- Berg Lissel, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Living With A Physical Disability In Malawi: A Prosthetic And Orthotic Patient Perspective
- 2013
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction:Malawi is located in south-east Africa, 53% of the population live below the poverty line. Few studies have specifically investigated the situation for people with physical disabilities in Malawi. The aim of this study was to explore the opinions and feelings of how it is to live with a physical disability in Malawi from a prosthetic and orthotic patient perspective.Methods:A qualitative study using individual semi-structure interviews for data collection was performed with 16 patients, men and women with physical disabilities receiving services from the prosthetic and orthotic centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. Data were analysed using content analysis.Results:Six categories emerged from the data. People with physical disabilities felt independent and wanted to take care of themselves. They experienced mainly positive attitudes and encouragement from others. They had a positive view of life, but the disability affected their life situation. Contact with other people with physical disabilities was requested for support and experience-sharing. The major concern was work and the financial situation. Ability to work was important to meet basic needs and for the feeling of independence. Negative attitudes were a result of poor knowledge.DiscussionThe study showed a clear need of creating work opportunities specifically for people with physical disabilities, since having a job was found important for many reasons. Support programs profiled to help and strengthen people with physical disabilities in Malawi would be beneficial for them to access the labour market. Spreading knowledge and information about physical disabilities and orthopedic devices is a key issue to create a better understanding and to change people ́s attitudes.Conclusions:Work was important for the feeling of freedom, independence and for the self-image. Negative attitudes were uncommon, but when seen they were a result of poor knowledge about causes of disability and the situation for these people.
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| 9. |
- Bysell, Lina Emilia, et al.
(author)
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Post-apartheid reconciliation through buildings : A comparison between two South African museums
- 2017
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In: Tidskrift för ABM. - 2002-4614. ; 2:2, s. 36-60
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article aims to illustrate the relationship between museum success and community engagement within the broader field of the intersection of memory-space-healing and national traumas all over the world. Museum success is in this case defined as a functioning museum which engages with content and receives a large number of visitors, and is accepted by and engages with its community. We have included an analysis of two South African museums that focus on elements of the apartheid past, in order to explore the architectural, institutional and social dynamics that are at play when a museum has to deal with difficult subject matter in a complex physical context. We look at relevant literature from South African architectural and museum publications, as well as work by international cultural heritage authors. We also include visual and descriptive analysis of two case studies. The focus is on the District Six Museum in Cape Town and the Red Location Museum in Port Elizabeth and their roles, as institutions and buildings, in post-conflict recon- ciliation. Additional examples are investigated in terms of archi- tectural design, display design, and institutional culture. We draw conclusions based on the complex post-apartheid context wherein these museums function. The main conclusions are first linked to how a museum is introduced into a community and second, how the engagement with the community is managed. We argue that these two factors may impact directly on the survival of the museum. The Red Location Museum serves as an example of a breakdown of these relationships.
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| 10. |
- Elam, Cecilia, et al.
(author)
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Effects of age on muscle power, postural control and functional capacity after short-term immobilization and retraining.
- 2022
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In: Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions. - 1108-7161. ; 22:4, s. 486-497
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated the effect of lower limb immobilization and retraining on postural control and muscle power in healthy old and young men.Twenty men, nine old (OM:67.3±4.4 years) and eleven young (YM:24.4±1.6 years) underwent 2 weeks of unilateral whole-leg casting, followed by 4 weeks of retraining. Measures included center of pressure (CoP) sway length and area during single- and double-leg stance, maximal leg extensor muscle power, habitual and maximal 10-m gait speed, sit-to-stand performance, and 2-min step test.After immobilization, leg extension muscle power decreased by 15% in OM (from 2.68±0.60 to 2.29±0.63 W/kg, p<0.05) and 17% in YM (4.37±0.76 to 3.63±0.69 W/kg, p<0.05). Double-leg CoP sway area increased by 45% in OM (218±82 to 317±145 mm2; p<0.05), with no change in YM (p=0.43). Physical function did not change after immobilization but sit-to-stand performance (+20%, p<0.05) and 2-min step test (+28%, p<0.05) increased in OM following retraining. In both groups, all parameters returned to baseline levels after retraining.Two weeks of lower limb immobilization led to decreases in maximal muscle power in both young and old, whereas postural control was impaired selectively in old men. All parameters were restored in both groups after 4 weeks of resistance-based retraining.
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