Access to suitable wheelchairs may seriously impact the ability of people with
physical disabilities to integrate into regular community life. The overall aim of
this study was to determine the extent to which the needs of users of wheelchairs
manufactured locally in Tanzanian are met. The specific objectives of the study
were to determine users’ satisfaction with the wheelchairs manufactured in
Tanzania, their satisfaction with services associated with the provision, repair
and maintenance of these wheelchairs, and the extent to which these
wheelchairs enabled them to carry out their daily activities.
A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 75 users
of locally manufactured manual wheelchairs, aged 18-65 years and residing in
Dar es Salaam, Arusha and the Kilimanjaro regions of Tanzania. Data was
collected using a questionnaire consisting of demographic items and two existing
instruments, the Functioning Everyday with a Wheelchair (FEW) and Quebec
User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) 2.0. Data
were analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
software program version 20.0. Descriptive analysis was performed using
frequencies and proportions for categorical data or median and ranges for
numerical data. The chi-square test was conducted to determine whether there
were significant difference between gender and place of residence (rural/urban)
and satisfaction with functional needs, wheelchair and activity and participation.
Among the 75 wheelchair users, the female to male ratio was 1:2.7.
Respondents resided in both rural and urban areas and had used a wheelchair
for several years. The median value for the period of using a wheelchair median
(range) was 8.0 (1.0-30.0) years. The majority (n=57, 76.0%) used three-wheeler
wheelchairs. With respect to functional needs, participants were satisfied with
their ability to carry out daily routines (n=64, 85.3%), comfort (n=68, 90.6%),
health needs (n=66, 88.0%), operating the wheelchair (n=64, 85.3%), reaching
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different surface heights (n=64, 85.4%), transferring from one place to another
(n=67, 89.3%), personal care (n=64, 85.3%), moving around indoors (n=54,
80.0%), moving around outdoors (n=60, 76.0%) and using personal or public
transport (n=43, 57.3%) for each of these. With regards to wheelchair features
the majority of participants were satisfied with the durability of the wheelchair
(n=67, 89.4%) and least satisfied with ease of adjusting (n=52, 69.3%). With
respect to service provision of wheelchairs, the majority of participants (n=61,
71.4%) were satisfied with professional services and least satisfied with follow-up
services (n=7, 9.3%). In relation to aspects of activity and participation needs,
results indicated that the wheelchair had positively influenced more than 90% of
participants. This study revealed that with the use of wheelchair they were able to
work, lead an active leisure, go to shopping, socialize, mobility and participation
in sports.
In conclusion the majority of participants were more satisfied with wheelchair
features than the services provided. The majority of participants (n=58, 77.4%)
were dissatisfied with follow-up services.