Activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced by people with stroke in Musanze district in Rwanda.

G Urimubenshi

doi:10.4314/ahs.v15i3.28

Abstract

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability. Information regarding the limitations in activity and participation experienced by patients with stroke in a specific setting such as Musanze district in Rwanda would assist to develop the rehabilitation programmes that would take into consideration the functional challenges experienced post stroke. To explore the activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced by people with stroke in Musanze district in Rwanda. A qualitative phenomenological approach using in-depth face-to-face interviews with 10 participants was employed to gather the data that was analyzed using a qualitative thematic approach. The themes that arose as activity limitations included limitations in walking, self care, and domestic life activities. The themes related to participation restrictions as expressed by the participants were inability to return to previous occupation, decreased social interactions and inability to participate in religious activities. The current study findings highlight the need for interventions to improve the functional status of stroke survivors.

Highlights

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability
Participation restrictions As domains of participation restrictions, the participants’ expressions were related to three main themes which are the inability to return to previous occupation, decreased social interactions, and inability to participate in religious activities
Participation restrictions experienced The inability to return to previous occupation as a challenge experienced by stroke patients was found in other various studies

Summary

Introduction

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability. The outcome of stroke is as follows: one year after a stroke, about 30% of patients will be dead, and of the survivors, almost 40% will be dependent on others for their daily activities[1]. Suffering a stroke challenges the assumptive identity, self-concept and role-capacity of the individual in the face of acquired deficits[2], and the period following discharge from hospital or from inpatient rehabilitation is the most challenging for almost all stroke patients[3]. This could be associated with a discharge without accurate assessment of the domestic environment, and the establishment of networks. Information regarding the limitations in activity and participation experienced by patients with stroke in a specific setting such as Musanze district in Rwanda would assist to develop the rehabilitation programmes that would take into consideration the functional challenges experienced post stroke.

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion