Occupational therapy synergy between Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Tanzania and Heifer International to reduce poverty

Background: This article describes a partnership between a community-based rehabilitation organisation and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Tanzania. The partnership focused on income-generating (IG) activities to tackle the problems of poverty faced by families with a child with a disability (CWD). Objectives: The aim of this case study was to describe the partnership between Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Tanzania in Moshi (CCBRT-Moshi), a non-governmental organisation, and families to create an income-generating business, namely raising goats. Method: This was a team approach between CCBRT-Moshi and Heifer International, an organisation that focuses on IG activities to create a synergy or partnership between community-based rehabilitation and IG activities. Results: This partnership between occupational therapy rehabilitation services at CCBRT-Moshi and the NGO resulted in strengthening the effectiveness of occupational therapy services and leaving a more lasting impact on the people they served within the community by helping to reduce poverty in addition to providing rehabilitation and prevention interventions. Conclusion: This collaboration was successful as it provided a means for families to generate income from raising goats. Although the results have not been empirically verified, observational and anecdotal evidence suggests that families with CWDs have better quality of life and ultimately improved health through this synergistic partnership

Demographic characteristics of children with congenital limb deficiency: a retrospective study

To determine the demographic characteristics, types, levels of congenital limb loss, etiological factors, prosthetic fitting in children with congenital limb deficiencies and to compare findings with other studies. Patients with congenital limb deficiencies attending the prosthetic rehabilitation clinic at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre, King Hussein Medical Centre, Royal Medical Services in Jordan between January 1988 and January 2006 were reviewed and their demographic characteristics were analyzed. One hundred and forty three children with limb deficiency were reviewed. Sixty-two [43.4%] were males and 81 [56.6%] were females, with males to females ratio 1:1.3. The mean age at the first visit to the clinic was 7.15 years. The total number of limb deficiencies involved was 170 limbs of which 95 were upper limb and 75 were lower limb deficiencies. Of these 91 limbs were right sided and 79 limbs were left sided deficiency. The transverse limb deficiency was more than longitudinal limb deficiency, 112 and 58 respectively. The most common deficiency was the transverse forearm partial deficiency [below elbow] followed by transverse forearm total deficiency [elbow disarticulation] in the upper limbs. The longitudinal femoral partial deficiency followed by transverse leg partial deficiency [below knee] was the commonest in the lower limb. One hundred and seven [75%] children were fitted with prostheses. No definitive cause for the limb deficiency in children was found. This is the first study in Jordan concerned with congenital limb deficiency and forms a baseline for further new studies. The findings can be helpful in future management and planning of materials, facilities, budget needs for children with limb deficiency

review on psychosocial rehabilitative needs of elderly women in Iran

According to the last reported general census of Iran [1996], there are 20,70,790 elderly women in this country. They constitute 46% of the total elderly population. There has been a decrease in this fraction, from 48% to 46%, within the last 20 years. Considering that women have a longer life than men and the ratio of old men to old women is usually less than 1 in developed countries, it means that the pattern of population growth for elderly women in Iran is comparable with that of less developed countries. Some factors play a role in this vulnerability: only 3.3% of women above 60 years of age [compared with 61% of men] are economically independent. This means that approximately 96% are dependant on others for providing their essential needs. 91% of elderly women in Iran are illiterate [compared with 74.2% for men], most of them are house keepers and have no definite salary to support them in old-age. The number of women living alone is about 3.5 times more than that of men living alone. Despite some important steps being taken by the government, nevertheless, it seems, in order to fill the social gaps that are inherited from the past, we need to give special considerations toward allocation and delivery of more funds and services to this fragile fraction of the population

Rehabilitación integral postmastectomía / Integrated rehabilitation after mastectomy

Objetivo. Describir el concepto de rehabilitación integral y destacar los aspectos físicos, psicológicos, sociales y económicos que son cracterísticos en la rehabilitación de la mujer con cáncer de mama. Sede. División de Cirugía del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de México. Metodología. Revisión y análisis de la literatura nacional e internacional (44 referencias). Resultados. Existe un creciente número de mujeres que han sido exitosamente tratadas de cáncer de mama. Estas mujeres enfrentan una gran cantidad de aspectos relacionados con la supervivencia a largo plazo. Para poder tener un impacto positivo en su calidad de vida se requiere de un programa de rehabilitación completo que contemple: desde los cuidados de la piel que cubre la pared torácica hasta los aspectos estéticos, pasando por los problemas de orden físico, psicológico y económico que la enfermedad ocasiona. Conclusión. La rehabilitación post-mastectomía es tan importante como el diagnóstico y el tratamiento del cáncer de mama