Browsing by Author "Mahlangu, Dineo Precious"

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    Perceptions of carers of persons with paraplegia, regarding the caregiver training
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12-) Mahlangu, Dineo Precious; Kahonde, Callista K.; Geiger, Martha; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Rehabilitation Studies.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: In South Africa, the Integrated National Disability Strategy and the National Rehabilitation Strategy of 2000 emphasise that the rehabilitation of persons with disability is crucial. There are currently 16 recognized rehabilitation facilities in the whole country. The rehabilitation process leads to re-integration of the person who has acquired disability back into their homes and communities, where caregivers become important role players. Therefore, with the limitation of facilities to provide sufficient rehabilitation services, services empowering caregivers become necessary to ensure continuation of care and promotion of independence. Formal or informal caregivers that are identified will need to be trained well so that the specific needs of the caregivers can be prioritized. Aims: To understand the perceptions of caregivers of persons with paraplegia regarding the caregiver training programme offered at a neuro-rehabilitation facility in Mangaung, Free State Province in South Africa. Objectives: a) To explore and describe the perceptions of caregivers of persons with paraplegia regarding the caregiver training programme; b) To identify the gaps and the strengths of the caregiver training programme. Methods: This study used an exploratory-descriptive study design with qualitative methods of data collection. Participants were primary caregivers of persons with paraplegia who had received rehabilitation and got discharged from the neuro-rehabilitation facility. Semi-structured in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with eight participants. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The findings of this study highlighted aspects of the caregiver training programme that the participants appreciated and felt were beneficial and also several gaps that the programme is not addressing. Four themes were generated from the data. These were; 1) components of the caregiver training process, 2) duration and frequency, 3) unmet caregiver expectations and 4) caregiver support. Participants expressed both positive and negative perceptions on their experience of the training programme. Conclusions: The rehabilitation practitioners at Mangaung neuro-rehabilitation facility need to address the gaps within the caregiver training programme that were highlighted by the participants for example, caregiver preparation, increasing the time of training, providing opportunities for hands-on practice, providing follow up services and addressing the caregivers’ individualised support needs. This is important to ensure that the components of the training process address the needs of the caregiver and the person with paraplegia, to promote caregiver competency, good quality of care and quality of life. Currently, the caregiver training seems to be focused on what the rehabilitation practitioners think is important for caregiving and no so much on meeting the real needs of the caregivers.