A Comparative Analysis: Everyday Experiences of Disability in Sierra Leone

Berghs, Maria; Santos‐Zingale, Myriam dos

doi:10.2979/africatoday.58.2.19

Cited by 10 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This also has an impact on the way they view disability. [31] Both our results and previous studies [5,24,28,29] indicate that traditional beliefs can cause discrimination and have a negative impact on people with physical disability. To improve the status of people with disability in society, the influence of traditional beliefs needs to be considered and addressed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…Previous studies have confirmed that stigma and attitudes towards people with disability are rooted in the languages of Sierra Leone. [24,28] People with physical disabilities are often called "crippled", or "die futahn" ("dead feet "or "dead hands") in Krio. Children with severe disabilities are referred to as "debulpikin", which means "devil" or "demon child".…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Impairment, physical or mental, is usually linked to traditional beliefs such as witchcraft or being cursed for previous punishable behaviour. [28] The belief that disability is caused by witchcraft was, conversely, found to be "positive" in some villages where some disabled people are believed to have "special powers" and hence have higher rank. [5] Traditional medicine is often used to find the cause of disability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[5] Traditional medicine is often used to find the cause of disability. [28] Traditional medicine, according to the World Health Organization, consists of knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences of different cultures, and used for the maintenance of health or treatment of illness. [30] People's understanding of disease and disability and its causes is dynamic and sometimes incoherent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Experiences of attitudes in Sierra Leone from the perspective of people with poliomyelitis and amputations using orthotics and prosthetics

Andregård

Magnusson

2016

Disability and Rehabilitation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Sierra Leone, people with disabilities face severe discrimination. They need to be included, recognized, and supported to a greater extent by the society, the community, and the family, as well as by the government and international organizations. Traditional beliefs have a negative impact on people with physical disabilities and are an important cause of discrimination in Sierra Leone. Prosthetic and orthotic devices are vital for people with physical disability and offer increased dignity. Prosthetic and orthotic services need to be accessible and affordable. Poverty affects access to education, employment, and health care for Sierra Leoneans with physical disabilities, forcing them to resort to begging to cover basic living needs. Implications for Rehabilitation In Sierra Leone, traditional beliefs related to disability and public attitudes need to change in order to protect the human rights of people with disabilities. Increased public awareness of disability and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at different levels in society is needed. To increase access to prosthetic and orthotic services in Sierra Leone, these services need to be affordable and related costs, such as transport, need to be covered by support. Increased access to education, employment, and financial support could contribute to an improved standard of living for people with physical disabilities. Governmental and international support is needed to decrease attitudinal and environmental barriers for people with disabilities in Sierra Leone.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Experiences of attitudes in Sierra Leone from the perspective of people with poliomyelitis and amputations using orthotics and prosthetics

Andregård

Magnusson

2016

Disability and Rehabilitation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Western ideal of individual independence typically exists where a strong infrastructure of public institutions can enable such independence. However, in Sierra Leone, interdependence with those in one's social network is normal and expected [1].…”

Section: External Capabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Counteracting dampeners

Jones

Pal

2015

Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents an ethnographically-based account on the impact of technologies appropriated in the livelihood strategies of people with disabilities (PWDs) in Sierra Leone, West Africa. In contrast to other developing countries, Sierra Leone presents a situation where people with disabilities are socially marginalized but not necessarily wholly disadvantaged. Through a lens of technology-amplified capabilities we show how PWDs leverage information and communication technologies (ICTs) to counteract social dampeners they regularly experience that prevent their participation in society. We discuss the role of the war experience and its impact on services and attitudes towards people with disability and how disruptive contexts can open up opportunities to support and amplify existing life skills towards development goals.

show abstract

Race, Ethnicity and Disability: Charting Complex and Intersectional Terrains

Stienstra

Nyerere²

2016

Disability in the Global South

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A Comparative Analysis: Everyday Experiences of Disability in Sierra Leone

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

Experiences of attitudes in Sierra Leone from the perspective of people with poliomyelitis and amputations using orthotics and prosthetics

Experiences of attitudes in Sierra Leone from the perspective of people with poliomyelitis and amputations using orthotics and prosthetics

Counteracting dampeners

Race, Ethnicity and Disability: Charting Complex and Intersectional Terrains

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About