Outcomes of a Rehabilitation Program for Adolescents with a Physical- or Hearing Impairment in the Central Region and Volta Region in Ghana

Abstract

Background: The Liliane Foundation supports organizations that provide interventions for children and adolescents with an impairment in Ghana. The outcomes of this aid are not fully known. Purpose: This study aims to describe to which extent adolescents from 15 to 25 years old with a physical- or hearing impairment have experienced changes in their daily life activities, communicative activities and social participation since the intervention sponsored by the Liliane Foundation and how they perceive those changes. Additionally, the barriers that the adolescents are still facing after the intervention are investigated. Method: A qualitative approach is used. In total we conducted 37 semi-structured face to face interviews with the adolescents and some parents, 4 interviews with staff members and 7 focus groups. For additional information document analysis and open observation were done. The discussed topics were based on the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Results: The adolescents could move around or communicate more easily, had more friends, were learning something or had found work. These changes were caused by surgery, the use of aid devices, attending school or a training, learning sign language and a change in mind set. Several barriers towards full participation were still present, such as stigma’s about impairments, a bad infrastructure and parents that did not understand how to deal with the impairment of their child. Conclusion: All participants have experienced changes in their daily life activities, communicative activities and social participation after the intervention. However, the adolescents were still experiencing infrastructural, attitudinal and educational barriers and therefore could not always participate in their family and community.