Determining the competences of community based workers for disability-inclusive development in rural areas of South Africa, Botswana and Malawi

Autor: Theresa Lorenzo, Ermien van Pletzen, Margaret Booyens
Rok vydání: 2015
Předmět:
Adult
Male
Rural Population
Emergency Medical Services
Community-Based Participatory Research
Health Knowledge
Attitudes
Practice
Malawi
Health (social science)
Capacity Building
media_common.quotation_subject
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Medically Underserved Area
Patient Advocacy
Health Services Accessibility
Interviews as Topic
Dignity
Disability Evaluation
South Africa
Professional Competence
Patient-Centered Care
Humans
Disabled Persons
Sociology
Social determinants of health
Community development
media_common
Community Health Workers
Patient Care Team
Botswana
business.industry
Delivery of Health Care
Integrated
Social change
Public Health
Environmental and Occupational Health
Problem-Based Learning
Public relations
Middle Aged
Disability studies
Health Literacy
Education
Medical
Graduate
Optometry
Social exclusion
Female
Rural area
business
Qualitative research
Zdroj: Rural and remote health. 15(2)
ISSN: 1445-6354
Popis: Introduction Persons with disabilities and their families still live with stigma and a high degree of social exclusion especially in rural areas, which are often poorly resourced and serviced. Community-based workers in health and social development are in an ideal position to assist in providing critical support for some of those most at risk of neglect in these areas. This article analyses the work of community disability workers (CDWs) in three southern African countries to demonstrate the competencies that these workers acquired to make a contribution to social justice for persons with disabilities and their families. It points to some gaps and then argues that these competencies should be consolidated and strengthened in curricula, training and policy. The article explores local experiences and practices of CDWs so as to understand and demonstrate their professional competencies and capacity to deliver disability-inclusive services in rural areas, ways that make all information, activities and programs offered accessible and available to persons with disabilities. Methods A qualitative interpretive approach was adopted, informed by a life history approach. Purposive sampling was used to select 16 CDWs who had at least 5 years experience of disability-related work in a rural area. In-depth interviews with CDWs were conducted by postgraduate students in Disability Studies. An inductive and interpretative phenomenological approach was used to analyse data. Results Three main themes with sub-categories emerged demonstrating the competencies of CDWs. First, integrated management of health conditions and impairments within a family focus comprised 'focus on the functional abilities' and 'communication, information gathering and sharing'. Second, negotiating for disability-inclusive community development included four sub-categories, namely 'mobilising families and community leaders', 'finding local solutions with local resources', 'negotiating retention and transitions through the education system' and 'promoting participation in economic activities'. Third, coordinated and efficient intersectoral management systems involved 'gaining community and professional recognition' and the ability to coordinate efforts ('it's not a one-man show'). The CDWs spoke of their commitment to fighting the inequities and social injustices that persons with disabilities experienced. They facilitate change and manage the multiple transitions experienced by the families at different stages of the disabled person's development. Conclusions Disability-inclusive development embraces a philosophy of social inclusion and a set of values that seeks to protect the human dignity and rights of persons with disabilities. It requires a workforce equipped with skills to work intersectorally and in a cross-disciplinary manner in order to operationalise the community-based rehabilitation guidelines that are designed to promote delivery of services in remote and rural areas. CDWs potentially have a unique set of competencies that enables them to facilitate disability-inclusive community development in rural areas. The themes reveal how the CDWs contribute to building relationships that restore the humanity and dignity of persons with disabilities in their family and community. These competencies draw from different disciplines which necessitates recognition of the CDWs as a cross-disciplinary profession.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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