A path toward disability-inclusive health in Zimbabwe Part 2: A qualitative study on the national response to COVID-19

Background: People with disabilities are at higher risk of adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Additionally, measures to mitigate COVID-19 transmission have impacted health service provision and access, which may particularly disadvantage people with disabilities. Objectives: To explore the perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities in accessing health services in Zimbabwe during the pandemic, to identify perceived challenges and facilitators to inclusive health and key actions to improve accessibility. Methods: We used in-depth interviews with 24 people with disabilities (identified through purposive sampling) and with 10 key informants (from expert recommendation) to explore the impact of COVID-19 on access to health care. Interviews were transcribed, coded and thematically analysed. We used the disability-inclusive health 'Missing Billion' framework to map and inform barriers to inclusive health care during COVID-19 and disparities in outcomes faced by people with disabilities. Results: People with disabilities demonstrated good awareness of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, but faced difficulties accessing COVID-19 information and health services. Challenges to the implementation of COVID-19 guidelines related to a person's functional impairment and financial ability to do so. A key supply-side constraint was the perceived de-prioritisation of rehabilitation services. Further restrictions on access to health services and rehabilitation decreased an individual's functional ability and exacerbated pre-existing conditions. Conclusion: The immediate health and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities in Zimbabwe were severe. Government departments should include people with disabilities in all communications and activities related to the pandemic through a twin-track approach, meaning inclusion in mainstream activities and targeting with specific interventions where necessary.

De toda maneira tem que andar junto: ações intersetoriais entre saúde e educação para crianças vivendo com a síndrome congênita do vírus Zika / The need to act together in every way possible: inter-sector action in health and education for children living with the congenital Zika syndrome / De todas formas deben ir juntas de la mano: acciones intersectoriales entre salud y educación para niños que viven con el síndrome congénito del virus Zika

Resumo: Com base na experiência de um programa de intervenção para famílias de crianças com a síndrome congênita do vírus Zika, que inclui múltiplas deficiências, em uma instituição de educação, foram observados os desafios e conquistas encontrados com a entrada dessas famílias no sistema escolar. O objetivo deste artigo foi explorar os achados de pesquisa realizada após a conclusão de um programa de intervenção mediante entrevistas semiabertas com profissionais da instituição, e as possíveis contribuições para a construção das relações intersetoriais visando à inclusão escolar de crianças com deficiência. É possível constatar uma mudança provocada pelo programa na relação entre as famílias e os profissionais da instituição de educação; as famílias tiveram espaço para elaborar seus receios e discutir o papel da escola na vida de crianças com deficiência. Dessa forma, os profissionais passaram a vê-las em uma posição mais ativa. Acredita-se que esta experiência possa favorecer outros serviços e municípios que busquem a inclusão escolar de crianças e adolescentes com deficiência assim como sua inclusão social e de suas famílias.

Abstract: The experience with an intervention program conducted in an educational institution and targeted to families of children with congenital Zika syndrome, which includes multiple disabilities, revealed the challenges and strides with the entry of these families in the school system. This article aimed to explore the findings from a study conducted after the conclusion of an intervention program, using semi-open interviews with professional staff at the institution and the possible contributions towards establishing inter-sector relations aimed at school inclusion of children with disabilities. A change was seen, as a result of the program, in the relationship between the families and the professionals at the educational institution, whereby the families had room to voice their fears and discuss the school's role in the lives of their children with disabilities. The professionals thus came to see the families taking a more active stance. This experience can favor other services and municipalities that seek school inclusion for children and adolescents with disabilities, as well as their social inclusion and that of their families.

Resumen: A partir de la experiencia de un programa de intervención para familias de niños con el síndrome congénito del virus Zika, que incluye múltiples discapacidades, en una institución educativa se observaron los desafíos y logros que se consiguieron tras la entrada de esas familias en el sistema escolar. El objetivo de este artículo fue analizar los resultados de la investigación realizada, tras la conclusión de un programa de intervención, a través de entrevistas semiabiertas con profesionales de la institución, así como las posibles contribuciones en la construcción de relaciones intersectoriales, con el fin de la inclusión escolar de niños con discapacidad. Es posible observar el cambio provocado por el programa en la relación entre las familias y los profesionales de la institución educativa, debido a que las familias contaron con un espacio para exponer sus recelos y discutir el papel de la escuela en la vida de niños con discapacidad. De esta forma, los profesionales pasaron a ser vistos desde una posición más activa. Se cree que esta experiencia puede favorecer a otros servicios y municipios que busquen la inclusión escolar de niños y adolescentes con discapacidad, así como su inclusión social y la de sus familias.