Addressing Health Crisis among Pregnant Women with Disabilities: From the Zimbabwean and Zambian Point of View
Journal Title: Journal of Quality in Health Care & Economics (JQHE) - Year 2020, Vol 3, Issue 4
Abstract
Projects that address changing values in our communities and that have impact on needs technology as well as addressing the health for all should be considered in all African countries. COVID19 is a point of argument. During this study, African leaders were running around for intervention measures and protection of their people from Corona virus. One wonders if the state of urgency would have been the same if COVID19 affected only those who cannot communicate such as the poor and those with disabilities. The latter minority groups have always been dying of preventable diseases such as Malaria and malnutrition whilst most women with disabilities experience maternal challenges in most African countries. Zimbabwean government indulged in the construction of alternative sanitary facilities in schools, clinics and hospitals. This move alleviated the sanitary and hygiene challenges faced by Zimbabweans. Studies revealed that persons with physical disabilities accessed most of these public institution toilets by leaving their wheelchairs outside then crawl on their hands and feet despite the dirty toilet floors. Most public toilet corridors were too narrow for wheelchairs to manoeuvre and there were no rails for support. In a study to examine the coping mechanisms and adaptation of women with physical disabilities in such an environment, qualitative methodology was used. Ethnography was used to gather data in Bindura district of Zimbabwe and Lusaka district of Zambia. Cross-sectional research was employed and interviews and questionnaire were data collection instruments. It was found that difficulty in accessing health institutions buildings and sanitary facilities made women with disabilities indulge in alternative, unhealthy practices which included home pregnancy delivery as well as failure to take their babies for baby health check clinic. While the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities emphasis on inclusive health, rehabilitating all institutions cannot be achieved now in Zimbabwe and Zambia due to economic crisis. However, SDGs can still be met by adopting policies that ensure healthy lives and wellbeing for all. Pregnant Women with Disabilities Community Care Model (PWwDCCM) can be adopted as an integrated home care model. This would be a holistic approach to managing pregnant women with disabilities as well as participation of health personnel and community members. Thus the two countries can contribute significantly in reducing the global maternal mortality ratio as well as preventing deaths of new born babies.
Authors and Affiliations
Chigunwe G* and Mphande F
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP750358
- DOI 10.23880/jqhe-16000172
- Views 69
- Downloads 0
Newborn Vaccination and Jaundice
Vaccination of newborn has many controversial issues which are not supported by scientific studies and could be considered as cultural myths but they are still followed in primary health care in the Middle East includ...
PROMs in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Comparison between Robotic Mako Assisted Versus Manual Technique
Study Purpose: The purpose of this observational study is to evaluate the degree of satisfaction and improvement in quality of life through PROMs (Patient Related Outcome Measures), which were administered to patients wh...
Use of the Odds Ratio in Clinical Research
The Odds Ratio is one of several statistics used to assist clinicians determine whether to use a particular treatment in clinical practice. The Odds Ratio fits into the category of effect-size statistics because the larg...
Children with Cerebral Palsy in Primary Health Care
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that cause developmental disabilities that result in considerable functional limitations.
Server Illness Scale Based on the Disability-Adjusted Life Year Method (Daly=Yll+Yld): Monitoring to Prevent Risks and Reduce Incidents
Worker's health has shown to be an increasingly ascendant theme, in view of the epidemiological data that culminate in the progressive illness of those worked within their work environment. Currently, federal public serv...