Disability profiles and needs of disability grant recipients in Kleinmond, Western Cape, South Africa / Annette Freig.

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The South African National Census (1996) reports a disability prevalence of 6,6% inSouth Africa. In November 1999 the government paid out 635 881 temporary orpermanent disability grants. Legislation is in place to allow the Department of SocialServices to administer the grants. For this study demographic information of disabilitygrant recipients in a semi-rural area was sought in order to improve understanding ofdisability and to assist in service delivery. The study was executed in Kleinmond, acoastal town in the Western Cape with a population of 3 918, where 189 peoplereported a disability during the 1996 census.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the disability profile, caregiver utilizationand needs of disability grant recipients in Kleinmond, Western Cape, South Africa.METHODSA descriptive survey was the study design of choice. The study population consistedof recipients of a permanent disability grant who collected their grants at theKleinmond Post Office in June 1999.In order to capture the necessary information, a questionnaire was developed basedon the disability catalogue of the International Classification of Impairment, Disabilityand Handicap (ICIDH) of the World Health Organisation. Pilot studies were conductedand the researcher interviewed 29 grantees during the main study in Kleinmond inJune/July 1999. Repeatability of the questionnaire was tested. Ninety six percent ofthe responses were the same on the second visit to four randomly selected grantees.Data was analysed with the statistical software package STATISTICA.RESULTSThe response rate was 90% (29/32). The mean age of the mainly male grantees was42 years (range: 18 - 64). Most grantees were single, but the majority stayed withsomeone else. Ninety three percent (27/29) were unemployed while 69% (20/29) feltthey were able to work. Most grantees took regular medication and the majorityaccessed health services at the primary level local clinic. Twenty five grantees (86%or 25/29) reported multiple disabilities, while one person did not fit into any of thecategories. The most common disability category was situational disability (82% or24/29). Nineteen persons with disabilities (66% or 19/29) relied on help which wasmainly given by the parents. Assistance was needed with activities such as collectingthe disability grant, shopping and managing money. With regard to needs of grantees,most found it important to have the clinic closer to their homes (52% or 15/29), toincrease the amount of the disability grant (76% or 22/29) and to raise awareness ofdisability in the community (69% or 20/29).CONCLUSIONMost disability grant recipients in this study reported problems in many of the sevendisability categories of the ICIDH, i.e. multiple disabilities. This is consistent with theassumption that only severely disabled people qualify for a permanent disability grantin South Africa. This might explain why the majority of the grantees utilized acaregiver for some tasks. Needs with regard to health and social services of thisdefined group of persons with disabilities in Kleinmond will be brought to the attentionof the authorities, who are planning a new community centre and clinic.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University