Community reintegration of patients with neurological disorders post discharge from the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre, Malawi

Type Journal Article - The Journal of Global Health
Title Community reintegration of patients with neurological disorders post discharge from the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre, Malawi
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
URL http://www.ghjournal.org/community-reintegration-of-patients-with-neurological-disorders-post-discha​rge-from-the-kachere-rehabilitation-centre-malawi/
Abstract
This study investigated the community reintegration status of patients with neurological disorders discharged from the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre (Kachere) in Malawi. The purpose of this study was to determine patient-perceived disability based on specific tasks in the activity and participation dimensions of the International Classification of Function (ICF). The limited studies that focused on patients in countries with few resources have indicated that a number of problems interfered with their return to prior functional status, particularly problems of reintegrating into their home and community environments.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 With a mixed-method design, the researchers conducted interviews with patients poststroke (CVA) and various other neurological disorders (N-CVA). They quantified patient self-reports of disability using the World Health Organization’s Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (DAS). A researcher-designed Home Observation Data Form (HOD) provided descriptive environmental information. Analysis of DAS data supported the research hypothesis that patients perceived moderate to severe levels of disability. These findings did not correlate with diagnosis or gender. Environmental barriers such as narrow passageways within, surrounding, and lead- ing to the homes; rough and hilly terrain; water sources outside the home; lack of cars; and long distances to markets and places of worship appeared to play a significant role in limiting home and community par- ticipation activities. This study’s results documented patient status, verified literature for similar patients in countries with few resources, provided programming considerations for Kachere staff with future patients and supported potential use of the DAS for similar research. Potential implications reach beyond immediate patient needs based on the WHO World Report on Disability.

Related studies

»