Investigating the Implementation of Community Based Rehabilitation Program for Children with Physical Disabilities in Adama Town
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Date
2000-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This Study is designed to investigate the implementation of Community-Based
Rehabilitation program for four groups of children with physical disabilities namely
Cerebral Palsy (CP) , Polio, amputee and clubfoot children in Adama town. The
study was conducted by using qualitative as well as quantitative methods.
Consultation of documents and questionnaire were also used to complement the
focus group discussion. By using both data collection methods, 104 subjects were
completed the questionnaire while 16 children and 14 adults were respectively
participated in five focus group discussion sessions. Regarding Children with
physical disabilities, they are 58 in number and their mean age is 15.5 with SO
1.49. This implies that their age difference is not significant. In other words,
majorities of the sampled children's age lies in the age group of Adolescence. The
Prevalence of Polio, CP, Clubfoot and amputee is higher among male children
than females . Out of the total sampled group male children constitutes 64%. The
prevalence of physical disability is high among male than female because male
children are exposed to accidents, falls and different unknown disabling factors .
Similarly, there appears to be a relationship between educational level and income
of parents and prevalence of physical disabilities. In this regard, majorities of
children with Physical disabilities those who were involved in CBR programs are
from families of low income and low educational level. This study also finds that
community based rehabilitation program has been able to brought about
substantial changes in the lives of its program participants in terms of awareness
raising,
facilitating their material,
perceptual and emotional pathways toempowerment both at children and paternal levels. Parents who were previously
not involved in any income generating activities have now began showing
improvement in their livelihood as well as in rendering basic rehabilitation services
for their children with physical disabilities. Parents' awareness about the causes of
physical disability is significantly changed from the previous religious beliefs to
understanding about the real possible causes of Physical disability as a result of
CBR intervention. This study also found out that except in few community
organizations, involvement of the community in planning, decision-making, and
evaluation of the CBR program was minimal. However, Participation of children in
community based rehabilitation services such as in disability club formation ,
participating in disabled children's association and child-to-child interaction
activities was high and had enhanced their self-confidence and reduced feelings
of isolation and dependency
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Keywords
Children with Physical Disabilities in Adama Town