Browsing by Author "Gatley, Helen"

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    Exploring the experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities in accessing health and healthcare in a small, rural, South African town.
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Gatley, Helen; Swartz, Leslie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    Background In South Africa there is an ongoing emphasis placed on non-discrimination and the rights shared by all people, including those living with disabilities but despite this commitment, those with living with disabilities, and especially intellectual disabilities (ID), are often marginalised from accessing opportunities and resources. In this research I provide a description of an understanding of health and the experiences of health services as told to me by a group of people with ID (PWID), to better understand their needs in creating health. Purpose To provide a description of the understanding of health and health care from the perspective of a group of adults with intellectual disability, contributing to the magnification of their voices within health-related research and service planning so eventually to benefit PWID more widely. Methods This is a qualitative, descriptive study that is heavily embedded within the context in which it takes place, a residential facility. In this study, I have framed my enquiries from an emancipatory perspective and used the lens of occupation to understand the participants’ experiences through the social model of disability. After extensive care was taken with the gathering of consent, data generation was performed through interviews with 14 participants. The transcribed nterviews were analysed using thematic analysis, while three interviews were also analysed according to narrative analysis. Findings The overarching themes that emerged from the data generated within this research were conceptualised into a model to show the multidimensional interaction of the participation in health-creating behaviours along a spectrum of agency and dependence, embedded within a social context. Several health- creating behaviours were highlighted and described. The participants’ experiences of interaction with health care services were also examined and discussed in terms of the interplay of trust, empowerment and power. Finally, three of the participant interviews were isolated and two narrative elements each were examined and described. Conclusions PWID have many contributions to make to a better understanding of the lived experience of health for themselves and others. The idea of interdependency of society can provide a basis to create more positive attitudes towards PWID and so free their voices to be better heard. People with and without disabilities live within contexts that affect their ability to exercise their personal potential and it is important to examine these influences before deciding to situate limitations that are experienced, within the individual. This interaction is especially stark in PWID.