The impact of community-based rehabilitation as perceived by disabled people in a village in Botswana.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) on the lives of disabled people in Moshupa village in Botswana. Of the 132 disabled people, identified in a previous epidemiological study, all but three could be accounted for, and 77 were interviewed during a 5-week field period. The interviews took place in the homes of the clients, and focused on independence in activities of daily life, schooling/jobs and quality of life. The results indicated that a remarkably high percentage of elderly were alive (17% were 65 and over), and that most people had maintained high levels of independence in ADL. Furthermore, 20% of adults were working, 10 out of 14 children of school age were in school, and life satisfaction was high, although somewhat higher for younger people than for older ones. Significantly more younger people reported that life had improved, while most elderly people believed life to be worse now.