Transport access in Worcester: the lived experiences of stroke survivors

Date
2021-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Aim of the study: To explore the lived experiences of stroke survivors regarding access to transport in Worcester, Western Cape. The study focused on public and private transport. Regarding public transport the focus was on minibus taxis as busses and trains did not operate in the study community. Methods: This study implemented a descriptive qualitative design. The study population consisted of stroke survivors who lived in Worcester and used wheelchairs for mobility. Eight participants were identified, with whom semi-structured telephonic interviews were held. Thematic analysis with an inductive reasoning process was used to analyse and generate themes from the data. Findings: The four themes derived from the data were: 1). Community mobility modes; 2). Physical aspects to consider when accessing transport; 3). Acceptability of transport and 4). Psycho-social consequences of transport challenges. Community mobility was achieved via wheelchairs, or by private or public transport. Powered wheelchairs were deemed to be an alternative mode of transportation. Barriers identified were negative attitudes of drivers and co-commuters, getting into and out of transport and costs of accessing transport. The goodwill and considerate nature of some the taxi drivers as well as access to private vehicles facilitated transport access. Overall participants’ ability to reintegrate into their communities were hindered by transport access. Challenges with regard to access to transport led to social anxiety, dependency, loss of spontaneity and social isolation. Conclusion: The richness of participants’ experiences added knowledge and value to an often covered topic, i.e. transport access for persons with disabilities. The recommendations provide tangible ideas that can be explored by policy makers, rehabilitation service providers, disabled persons’ organisations, transport service providers and stroke survivors to enhance access to transport and through that community integration for stroke survivors.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Doel van Studie: Om die ondervindings van beroerte oorlewendes te verken ten opsigte van toegang tot vervoer in Worcester, Weskaap. Die studie het op publieke en privaat vervoer gefokus. Met betrekking tot publieke vervoer, was die fokus slegs op minibus-taxis aangesien bus en trein dienste nie in die studie gemeenskap bedryf word nie. Metodes:’n Beskrywende kwalitatiewe studie ontwerp was vir die studie geimplemteer om indiepte data te ontlok. Die studie populasie het bestaan uit beroerte oorlewendes wie almal woonagtig was in Worcester en rolstoele gebruik vir mobiliteit. Agt deelnemers was geidentifiseer en onderhoude mee gevoer. ‘n Tematiese analiese met n induktiewe redenasie proses was gevolg om data te analiseer en temas te genereer vanaf die semi-strukturele telefoniese onderhoude wat uitgevoer was. Bevindinge: Vier temas het uit die data gespruit: 1). Vorms van gemeenskapsmobilitiet; 2). Fisiese aspekte om te oorweeg met gebruik van vervoer; 3). Aanvaarbaarheid van vervoer en 4). Psigososiale nagevolge van vervoer uitdagings. Gemeenskapsmobiliteit was bereik deur rolstoele, privaat en publieke vervoer. Gemotoriseede rolstoele was geag as `n alternatiewe opsie vir vervoer. Geidentifiseerde hindernisse was negatiewe houdings van taxi bestuurders en mede-pendelaars, die in en uitklim in voertuie en kostes wat met vervoer gepaard gegaan het. Die welwillendheid en bedagsame natuur van sekere taxi bestuurders asook toegang tot privaat voertuie het toegang tot vervoer gefasiliteer. Deelnemers se algehele vermoë om te herintegreer in hulle gemeenskape was belemmer deur vervoer toegang. Uitdagings met toegang tot vervoer het gelei tot sosiale angstigheid, afhanklikheid, verlies aan spontaniteit en sosiale isolasie. Gevolgtrekking: Die rydom van deelmeners se ondervindings voeg kennis en waarde tot `n dikwels bestudeerde onderwerp i.e. vervoer toegang vir mense met gestremdhede. Die aanbevelings bied tasbare idees wat verken kan word deur beleidmakers, rehabilitasie diensverskaffers, organisasies vir persone met gestremdhede, vervoer diensverskaffers en beroerte oorlewendes om toegang tot vervoer te verbeter en deur dit gemeenskap integrasie vir beroerte oorlewendes.
Description
Thesis (MHumanRehabSt)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Cerebrovascular disease -- Patients -- Attitudes -- Western Cape (South Africa), People with disabilities -- Orientation and mobility -- Western Cape (South Africa), People with disabilities -- Transportation -- Western Cape (South Africa), Social integration, People with disabilities -- Social aspects, Community mobility -- Western Cape (South Africa), UCTD
Citation