-
Indian Journal of Medical Ethics 2016Different models have defined the term disability and grouped persons with disabilities accordingly. Time and again, various terms and phrases have been used in...
Different models have defined the term disability and grouped persons with disabilities accordingly. Time and again, various terms and phrases have been used in different languages to identity persons according to the differences in their bodies and the level of functioning of those bodies. Analogies and metaphors create stereotypes and can affect the formation of an individual's self-concept. Clichés like "divyang", ie one who has some divine powers to compensate for the deficiency in the body, based on the supercrip theory of disability, can distort the self-concept and hamper identity formation. Society and the state cannot and must not shrug off their responsibility by using such sugar-coated terms to label individuals. The real requirement is the creation of a nondisabling environment and the provision of equal opportunities to those with disabilities rather than coining of new terms.
Topics: Disabled Persons; Human Rights; Humans; India; Literature; Mass Media; Metaphor; Metaphysics; Self Concept; Social Behavior; Social Environment; Stereotyping; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 27474697
DOI: 10.20529/IJME.2016.045 -
The Lancet. Psychiatry Dec 2016Some people have a profound dissatisfaction with what is considered an able-bodied state by most others. These individuals desire to be disabled, by conventional... (Review)
Review
Some people have a profound dissatisfaction with what is considered an able-bodied state by most others. These individuals desire to be disabled, by conventional standards. In this Review, we integrate research findings about the desire for a major limb amputation or paralysis (xenomelia). Neuropsychological and neuroimaging explorations of xenomelia show functional and structural abnormalities in predominantly right hemisphere cortical circuits of higher-order bodily representation, including affective and sexual aspects of corporeal awareness. These neural underpinnings of xenomelia do not necessarily imply a neurological cause, and a full understanding of the condition requires consideration of the interface between neural and social contributions to the bodily self and the concept of disability. Irrespective of cause, disability desires are accompanied by a disabling bodily dysphoria, in many respects similar to gender dysphoria, and we suggest that they should be considered a mental disorder.
Topics: Amputation, Surgical; Body Dysmorphic Disorders; Disabled Persons; Humans
PubMed: 27889011
DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30265-6 -
Bulletin of the World Health... Nov 2022Considerable progress has been made in saving the lives of children younger than 5 years. Nevertheless, these advances have failed to help all children thrive,...
Considerable progress has been made in saving the lives of children younger than 5 years. Nevertheless, these advances have failed to help all children thrive, particularly children with disabilities. We describe the increasing prevalence of disability among children and adolescents. We evaluate the current situation regarding children with disabilities and rehabilitation in the context of health systems, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. Within the newborn health agenda, congenital anomalies often require early intervention and rehabilitation. We provide Argentina as an example of a country where rehabilitation for congenital anomalies is integrated into the health system. We argue that congenital anomalies that require rehabilitation have the potential to strengthen rehabilitation systems and policies by: strengthening coordination between primary care and rehabilitation; identifying and understanding pathways that allow families to engage with services; providing human resources for rehabilitation; and building systems and resources that support assistive technology and rehabilitation. We propose ways for countries to prioritize and integrate early identification, referral and care for children with congenital anomalies to strengthen health systems for all. We identify opportunities to expand policy and planning and to design service delivery and workforce strategies through World Health Organization guidelines and frameworks for rehabilitation. We argue that the global health community must act to ensure that rehabilitation services to support functioning from birth are well established, accepted and integrated within health systems, and that disability is prioritized within child health. These steps would strengthen health systems, ensure functioning from birth and make rehabilitation accessible to all.
Topics: Child; Adolescent; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Disabled Persons; Global Health; Self-Help Devices; Workforce; Government Programs
PubMed: 36324557
DOI: 10.2471/BLT.22.288147 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Dec 2022In the developed societies, supportive environmental, physical and social conditions enable participation of persons with disabilities in the mainstream through actions,... (Review)
Review
In the developed societies, supportive environmental, physical and social conditions enable participation of persons with disabilities in the mainstream through actions, like provision of ramps and reserved parking. In contrast, in the developing countries like Pakistan, with focus on visual disability, years lost to disabilities compromise and restrict the productive life span of the disabled. The current narrative review was planned to highlight the perspective of disability in the context of Pakistan to bring to limelight the issues requiring immediate focus of the health authorities and the government through a holistic and sustainable approach. Of the 177 publications found on literature search, 33(%) English-language, full-text studies were reviewed. To address disability issues, long-term sustainable actions, like health reforms, including ensuring availability of rehabilitation professionals in hospitals, legislative reforms to initiate relevant legislations, capacity-building of persons with disabilities, including their mainstreaming, are deemed essential.
Topics: Humans; Pakistan; Disabled Persons; Policy
PubMed: 37246676
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.5090 -
Rehabilitation Psychology Feb 2020This article describes the initial factor exploration of disability identity and preliminary psychometric characteristics based on an adult self-report tool. Disability...
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE
This article describes the initial factor exploration of disability identity and preliminary psychometric characteristics based on an adult self-report tool. Disability was defined broadly, and the sample included individuals with visible and/or hidden disabilities across many disability groups (i.e., physical, intellectual, learning, mental illness).
METHOD
Items were developed ( = 102) and a pilot measure was administered to a sample of adults with disabilities ( = 566). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using the mean and variance adjusted weighted least squares (WLSMV) estimator was conducted. The resulting items were sent to expert reviewers for evaluation.
RESULTS
Following the exploratory analyses, 37 items were retained that made up four factors: internal beliefs about own disability and the disability community, anger and frustration with disability experiences, adoption of disability community values, and contribution to the disability community. The pilot measure aligned well with the theoretical framework that guided its development.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
This factor exploration is a contribution to a growing body of literature supporting, and investigating, disability identity development. This work presents a more comprehensive understanding of disability identity development. Armed with a better understanding, this will serve as a basis to inform future scale development and validation. After this validation work is completed, there is the potential to apply findings to tailor interventions and clinical work, so that psychologists and rehabilitation professionals may be better prepared to meet the developmental needs of disabled clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Attitude to Health; Disabled Persons; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychometrics; Self Concept; Self Report; Young Adult
PubMed: 31944783
DOI: 10.1037/rep0000308 -
Journal of Continuing Education in... May 2024
Topics: Humans; Education, Nursing, Continuing; Disabled Persons; Curriculum; Adult; Disability Discrimination
PubMed: 38687100
DOI: 10.3928/00220124-20240411-01 -
Health Psychology : Official Journal of... Sep 2019Multimorbidity is a robust predictor of disability in aging adults, but the mechanisms by which multimorbidity is disabling are not clear. Most existing research focuses... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Multimorbidity is a robust predictor of disability in aging adults, but the mechanisms by which multimorbidity is disabling are not clear. Most existing research focuses on disease-specific phenomena, such as diminished lung capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can result in functional limitations. This review takes a different approach by highlighting the potential role of a biological process-inflammation-that is common to many chronic medical conditions and thus, from a medical perspective, relatively disease nonspecific.
METHOD
Beginning with a description of inflammation and its measurement, this paper will provide an overview of research on inflammation as a predictor of disease risk in healthy adults and of adverse outcomes (e.g., disability) in those with multimorbidity.
RESULTS
The discussion of inflammation is then situated in the context of biopsychosocial influences on health, as inflammation has been shown to be sensitive to a wide range of social and psychological processes that are thought to contribute to healthy aging, including successful adaptation to multimorbidity and reduced risk of disability.
CONCLUSIONS
Finally, implications of this broader perspective for interventions to improve outcomes in aging adults with multimorbidity are briefly considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Disabled Persons; Humans; Inflammation; Multimorbidity
PubMed: 31436464
DOI: 10.1037/hea0000749 -
Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy Jun 2016To empirically test the relationships proposed by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) among its domains.
OBJECTIVE:
To empirically test the relationships proposed by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) among its domains.
METHOD:
The cross-sectional study was completed with 226 adult patients with different health conditions who attended a Brazilian rehabilitation unit. The ICF components were measured with the following instruments: World Health Organization Disability Assessment Instrument II, Functional Independence Measure, Participation Scale, Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors, and a protocol designed to gather information on body structure and function and personal factors.
RESULTS:
Structural equation modeling showed good model adjustment, GFI=0.863; AGFI=0.795; RMSEA=0.028 (90% CI=0.014-0.043). Significant relationships were found between activity and both body structure and function (standard coefficient=0.32; p<0.0001) and participation components (standard coefficient=–0.70; p<0.0001). Environmental and personal factors had a significant effect on the three functioning components (standard coefficient =0.39; p<0.0001; standard coefficient =-0.35; p<0.001, respectively). In contrast, body structure and function had no significant effect on participation (standard coefficient=–0.10; p=0.111) and health conditions had no significant effect on any of the functioning components, i.e., body structure and function, activity, and participation (standard coefficient=–0.12; p=0.128).
CONCLUSION:
Some of the ICF’s proposed relationships across domains were confirmed, while others were not found to be significant. Our results reinforce the contextual dependency of the functioning and disability processes, in addition to putting into perspective the impact of health conditions.
Topics: Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons; Humans; International Classification of Diseases; Models, Theoretical
PubMed: 27878225
DOI: 10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0168 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Jun 2015Although much attention has been given to the physical determinants of common musculoskeletal complaints such as back and arm pain, research points to a stronger... (Review)
Review
Although much attention has been given to the physical determinants of common musculoskeletal complaints such as back and arm pain, research points to a stronger influence of psychological factors. Multiple studies have implicated poor mental health and somatisation (a tendency to worry about the common somatic symptoms) in the incidence and chronicity of musculoskeletal pain and associated disability. Also important are adverse beliefs about the prognosis of such disorders, and about the role of physical activity in their development and persistence. Differences in societal beliefs may have contributed to major variation in the prevalence of disabling musculoskeletal pain that has been observed between countries and in the same countries over time. Psychosocial aspects of work have also been linked with musculoskeletal pain, although relative risks have generally been smaller. There is a need to take account of psychological factors in the clinical management of patients with back, neck and arm pain.
Topics: Disabled Persons; Health Behavior; Humans; Mental Health; Musculoskeletal Pain; Psychology; Somatoform Disorders
PubMed: 26612236
DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2015.03.003 -
International Journal For Equity in... Jan 2021Equity and inclusion are important principles in policy development and implementation. The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which equity and inclusion were...
BACKGROUND
Equity and inclusion are important principles in policy development and implementation. The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which equity and inclusion were considered in the development of Malawi's National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan.
METHODS
We applied an analytical methodology to review the Malawi's National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan using the EquIPP (Equity and Inclusion in Policy Processes) tool. The EquIPP tool assesses 17 Key Actions to explore the extent of equity and inclusion.
RESULTS
The development of the Malawi National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan was informed by a desire to promote the rights, opportunities and wellbeing of persons with disability in Malawi. The majority (58%) of the Key Actions received a rating of three, indicating evidence of clear, but incomplete or only partial engagement of persons with disabilities in the policy process. Three (18%) of the Key Actions received a rating of four indicating that all reasonable steps to engage in the policy development process were observed. Four (23%) of the Key Actions received a score five indicating a reference to Key Action in the core documents in the policy development process.
CONCLUSIONS
The development of disability policies and associated implementation strategies requires equitable and inclusive processes that consider input from all stakeholders especially those whose wellbeing depend on such policies. It is pivotal for government and organisations in the process of policy or strategy development and implementation, to involve stakeholders in a virtuous process of co-production - co-implementation - co-evaluation, which may strengthen both the sense of inclusion and the effectiveness of the policy life-cycle.
Topics: Community Participation; Disabled Persons; Health Policy; Humans; Malawi; Policy Making; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 33413443
DOI: 10.1186/s12939-020-01378-y