University of Twente Student Theses
The relationship between the level of participation and the use of assistive devices by physically disabled Zambian adolescents and young adults (10-24 years) : an exploratory study
Jong, I.L. de (2015) The relationship between the level of participation and the use of assistive devices by physically disabled Zambian adolescents and young adults (10-24 years) : an exploratory study.
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| Abstract: | Purpose: The objective of this research is to determine the participation of physically disabled Zambian adolescents and young adults (10-24 years) with and without assistive devices and provide insight in their experienced barriers and facilitators towards that participation. Design: A three-months during cross-sectional and quasi-experimental study was conducted in Zambia. Adolescents and young adults with different physical disabilities at their lower extremities (i.e., paralysis, amputation or deformity of congenital or traumatic nature) were divided into two groups. The participants that use assistive devices were assigned to the assistive device group (AD-group) whereas participants that do not use assistive devices were assigned to the non-assistive device group (non-AD-group). For both groups, the participation was determined in a quantitative part of the study using the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP), which were extended with demographic information and sample characteristics. In order to interpret the participation scores, open-ended questions (i.e., qualitative part of the study) were asked about the experienced barriers and facilitators towards participation. Results: In total, 42 participants completed the questionnaire, of which most were female (57%) students (93%) going to secondary school (55%). The age of the participants range from 10-26 years (Mean=17.6, SD=4.3). The level of participation, on average, of the non-AD-group (n=8, Mean=85.0, SD=13.9, CI=73.4-96.7) was 3.2 points higher than that of the AD-group (n=34, Mean=81.8, SD=10.5, CI=78.2-85.5). The most frequently reported barriers towards participation were body limitations (n=20) and stigma (n=10), whereas participants reported assistive devices (n=15) and positive environmental attitudes (n=17) to be facilitators. Conclusion: This study was the first to ever be conducted in a developing country that focused on the relationship between assistive devices and participation. In contrast to prior research in high-income country, this study shows a higher level of participation in the non-AD-group. Research design, selection bias and small sample size are probably the underlying causes of this result. Nevertheless, assistive devices were reported as facilitators towards participation and figure as a precondition for positive environmental attitude. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 02 science and culture in general, 73 cultural anthropology |
| Programme: | Health Sciences MSc (66851) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/67035 |
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