Lived Experiences of Adults with Late Blindness in View of Psychosocial Problem and Coping Mechanisms: The Case of Addis Hiwot Center of Blind
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Date
2020-06
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AAU
Abstract
Adventitious blindness including late blindness refers to vision loss that occurs after five years of
age and above in which those who faced the vision problem at their late age may have visual
memory. The study aims to investigate the lived experiences of adults with late blindness
focusing on their psychosocial problems and other related themes such as the conditions how the
study adults with late blindness reacted to the occurrence of their vision problem, the impact of
vision problem of the study adults with late blindness on their psychosocial conditions, the kinds
of coping mechanisms applied to mitigate the psychosocial problems of adults with late
blindness and the aspiration of adults with late blindness on their future life.
Qualitative
research method with particular emphasis on phenomenological research design was employed
to conduct the study. Face to face interview was applied to generate data from the interviewees
using semi-structured interview with a view to maintaining the consistency and quality of the
interview. A total of 11 interviewees (six males and five females) were identified and selected
purposively as study participants from senior members of Addis Hiwot Center for the Blind, the
only center/association established by adults with late blindness in Ethiopia who had shared
vision on the issues related to late blindness. The data analysis was carried out based on the
thematic areas organized in interview guides as core questions. In addition, as a part of the
study two coherent case stories were prepared. The finding showed that the participants
confirmed that their vision problem affects their psychosocial wellbeing and living conditions.
The finding of the study further revealed that the occurrence of the vision problem at their late
age adversely affected the psychosocial and economic conditions of the participants and their
problem was aggravated by lack of opportunity to access rehabilitation services on coping
mechanisms. The finding of the study signified the need that both government and non-state
actors should work together at policy and grass roots level with a view to make difference in the
lives of people with late blindness and ensuring the continuation of their independent living
within the new situation they encountered.