EFFECTIVENESS OF AVAILABLE REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR PHYSICAL HANDICAPPED PEOPLE AT A LOCALITY IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: Rehabilitation helps to restore normal health, functioning, and well-being but doesn’t reverse the damage caused by trauma or disease. Rehabilitation is more helpful and shows better results if started early in disability. This study aimed to check the effectiveness of available rehabilitation services provided for physically handicapped people at Umeedabad Peshawar.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March 21 to July 21. A convenient non-prob­ability sample of 64 patients was taken from both inpatients and outpatients of a rehabilitative center at Umeedabad Pe­shawar, a locality near Peshawar, Pakistan. Data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by using SPSS version 23.

Results: A total of 64 patients participated in the study, of which 85.9 % were males and 14.1% were females. 62.5% of the patients were experiencing improvement in their health after availing of rehabilitative services in the center, and 37.5% said that their health has improved to some extent. A total of 62.5% of patients lived independently after joining the center, anoth­er 34.4% lived independently to some extent, and 3.1% still needed the help of others to perform their daily activities. Most of the patients responded positively, with 71.9% considering the quality of services as excellent and 28.1% considering it as good. 79.9% of the patients responded that they attend the follow-up sessions regularly, 17.2% of the patients sometimes miss the session and 3.1% of patients did not answer. Most of the patients had a positive inclination towards the use of therapy, 73.4% of patients considered that therapy was best while 26.6% considered assistive technology as another option.

Conclusion:It was concluded that the services provided in the center are effective and patients were satisfied with the ser­vices and showed visible improvement in their health and livelihood.