S-2-12-02
COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION IN A VILLAGE IN BOTSWANA: A SURVEY AND AN IMPACT STUDY
Professor Birgitta Lundgren-Lindquist (La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia)
In 1976 the member countries of World Health Organization (WHO) adopted an approach to rehabilitation described as Community-Based Rehabilitation, a strategy for enhancing the quality of life of disabled people by improving service delivery. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of two studies, a survey, and an evaluation of the impact of community-based rehabilitation as perceived by disabled people in a village in Botswana.
These studies were undertaken three years apart. A door-to-door survey was conducted in Moshupa Village identifying 132 disabled persons. A high proportion (30%) of the disabled persons had parents who were related to one another, 22% of the disabled were younger than 15 years of age and 17% were more than 65 years old. A majority of the disabled had difficulties with mobility (65%) and 21% had two or more disabilities. The results indicate a positive association between treatment and education. Of the 132 disabled people identified in the epidemiological study, all but three could be accounted for. A high percentage of elderly were still alive (17% were 65 and over), and 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. Life satisfaction was high although somewhat higher for younger than for older adults. Significantly more younger people reported that life had improved. Continuous follow-up studies are recommended since they offer an opportunity for continuing evaluations, as well as support and encouragement for the persons involved; the clients, the families and the health workers.
S-2-12-03
CBR AND THE PARTICIPATION OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE PROIFESSIONAL
Dr. HANDOJO TJANDRAKUSUMA (CBR DEV. AND TRAINING CENTER, SOLO, INDONESIA)
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) becomes a more prominent program in the field of disability prevention and rehabilitation, nowadays. It has been recommended by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as an effective strategy in dealing with disability issues, especially in developing countries. However, Community Based Rehabilitation program as a relatively new approach, has not always been understood correctly. Many still understand CBR program as a simple program in disability issues using simple equipment and knowledge, carried out by community member in the village, where involvement of professional is not really needed. In fact, CBR program is a quite complex program. Many expertise need to be involved to run the program. One of the expertise that is necessary and crucial for CBR program is the involvement of rehabilitation medicine service and rehabilitation medicine professional. The understanding of Community Based Rehabilitation program which is not adequately introduced to the professionals in rehabilitation medicine may be the major cause of why at present, only limited number of professional in rehabilitation medicine supports and being involved in the program.
This paper will introduce what Community Based Rehabilitation program is and describe how the role of Rehabilitation Medicine professional function in the program.
S-2-12-04
A DECADE OF CBR IN CHINA (1986-1996)
Dahong Zhuo (Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China)
A review and survey on the development of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) in China ever the past l0 years has shown the following features:
1. Initiated by the government, CBR has been stipulated in the law of the nation as the fundamental basis of rehabilitation work in China. CBR has been included as an important part in the National Plan of Work for People with Disabilities (PWD).
2. Currently China has 9596 CBR stations at county/township level, taking the WHO approach, or the primary-health-care approach, or the vocational and social rehab approach. Appropriate technology or local technology is widely used in CBR service, including traditional Chinese medical methods.
Trends for CBR in China moving beyond the year 2000 seem to favor diversified approaches, focusing not only on functional training, use of appliances and devices for the individuals, but also on policy-making and implementation to ensure equal opportunities for the PWD population as a whole in the community.
