Provision and use of physical rehabilitation services for adults with disabilities in Rwanda: A descriptive study

• Published in: African journal of disability Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. e1 - e13
• Main Authors: Kumurenzi, Anne, Richardson, Julie, Thabane, Lehana, Kagwiza, Jeanne, Musabyemariya, Ines, Bosch, Jackie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pretoria AOSIS 2022; AOSIS (Pty) Ltd
• Subjects: Adults; Barriers; Community health workers; Descriptive study; Disabilities; Disability; Estimates; Family support; Functional impairment; Funding; Health facilities; Hospitals; Life expectancy; NGOs; Nongovernmental organizations; Original Research; Outpatient services; People with disabilities; Physical rehabilitation; Private sector; Rehabilitation; Religious organizations; Rural communities; Rwanda; Teaching hospitals; Transport costs; Transportation; Triage; Canada; South Africa; Kigali Rwanda; Rwanda
• ISSN: 2223-9170; 2226-7220
• DOI: 10.4102/ajod.v11i0.1004

Background Physical rehabilitation interventions address functional deficits caused by impairments that affect someone’s performance. Whilst rehabilitation is important, it is assumed that these services are either minimal or nonexistent in low-resource settings. Our data expand on the data from the Situation Assessment of Rehabilitation in the Republic of Rwanda report to describe rehabilitation services and who access them at public and semiprivate facilities (primarily funded by the private sector).Objectives This article describes the use of the outpatient physical rehabilitation services across nine health facilities, the characteristics of adults attending these health facilities and some of the facilitators and barriers they encounter when attending rehabilitation.Method Data were collected between September and December 2018 from the heads of departments and adult patients attending outpatient rehabilitation services funded by the government, international nongovernmental organisations or faith-based organisations.Results Two hundred and thirteen adults were recruited from nine facilities. There is a sixfold difference in the number of rehabilitation personnel between public and semiprivate hospitals in these facilities’ catchment areas. However, most participants were recruited at public facilities (186 [87%]), primarily with physical disorders. Patients reported that family support (94%) was the most crucial facilitator for attending rehabilitation, whilst transportation cost (96%) was a significant barrier.Conclusion Rehabilitation service availability for Rwandan adults with disabilities is limited. Whilst family support helps patients attend rehabilitation, transportation costs remain a significant barrier to people attending rehabilitation. Strategies to address these issues include developing triage protocols, training community health workers and families.Contribution Data on rehabilitation service provision in Rwanda and most African countries are either non-existent or very limited. These data contain important information regarding the services provided and the people who used them across different health facilities (public versus private) and urban versus rural settings). To improve rehabilitation service provision, we first need to understand the current situation. These data are an important step to better understanding rehabilitation in Rwanda.