The Impact of the Rehabilitation Services on Children with Orthopedic Impairment
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Date
2005-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempts to explore the impact of the Rehabilitation services on children with orthopedic impairment at Arba Minch Rehabilitation center in Arbaminch town.
In collecting data for the study, four children with orthopedic impairment, four parents of children with orthopedic impairment, three community based Rehabilitation workers (CRWs), counselor. Orthopedic technician of the sampled organization were contacted, In addition, these sources of data were selected
based on purposive and available sampling techniques, Regarding children with orthopedic impairment,
they are four in number three of them are males and one is female. their age range was from 14-18 years.
In this study, the prevalence of polio is higher among the study cases 0/ orthopedic impairment. three of them were polio cases and the rest was children with spina bifida. Moreover. there appears to be a relationship between education lavel, income of parent and prevalence of orthopedic impairment. In this
regard, all of children with OI, who are involved in Rehabilitation program are from families of low
income and low education level.
The methods of data collection employed were semi- structured Interview, focus group discussion,
observation and consultation of documents. The data obtained through these four instruments were
organized and analyzed using qualitative approach.
This study also finds that rehabilitation programs has been able to brought about substantial challenges in
the lives of children served at AMRC. In regard With the effect of the Rehabilitation service on children with OI, lhe study revealed that social rehabilitation services such as counseling, awareness raising, and child to child program to children with OI had enhanced their self confidence and reduced feelings of
isolation and dependency. And also, the belief and perception of parents regarding the causes of orthopedic impairment was changed from religion belief to possible causes of OI.
Related to the functional aspect of children with OI. all have been benefited from medical/physical Rehabilitation services of the center. Therefore, the result of the study seemed to indicate that there was significant improvement on the daily living skills and mobility of the child.
The Other change observed were on educational aspect. Three of the case were attending school after they were provided physical/medical Rehabilitation services such as braces, crutches and shoes. The remaining one, even though he fwd got a wheelchair he couldn't attend school because he is unable to control his urine and stool. Besides his problem, no attention was given by the CRW in order to cure the
pressure sore found at his buttock. it seems this is due to lack of knowledge in relation to rehabilitation of
children with spina bifida.
Based on this result. discussions and concusion are made. Finally, some recommendations are indicated for possible interventions and further study.
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Keywords
Children with Orthopedic Impairment