Functioning and disability in recent research from Cameroon: a narrative synthesis

Ray, Minal; Wallace, Lorena; Mbuagbaw, Lawrence; Cockburn, Lynn

doi:10.11604/pamj.2017.27.73.12167

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(111 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We have completed and published one narrative synthesis of the research conducted in Cameroon on functioning and disability. In this paper, we highlight the paucity of research on disability and the associated stigma, limited knowledge and awareness, poor quality of care and hindered employment opportunities for people with disabilities [ 10 ]. We plan to explore other fields of research including mental health and HIV.…”

Section: Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and opportunities in country-specific research synthesis: a case study from Cameroon

Mbuagbaw

Cockburn

2017

Syst Rev

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundResearch synthesis is an important approach to summarizing a body of literature. Usually, the goal is to determine the effectiveness of an intervention, to determine the strength of association between two factors, to determine the prevalence of a condition, or to scope the literature. Research synthesis methods can also be used to appraise the quantity and quality of research output from institutions or countries. In the latter case, standard quantitative systematic review methodologies would not apply and investigators must borrow strategies from qualitative syntheses and bibliometric analyses to develop a complete and meaningful appraisal of the literature from a given country.MethodsIn this paper, we use the example of Cameroon to highlight some of the challenges and opportunities of appraising a body of country-specific literature. A comprehensive and exhaustive search of the literature was conducted to identify health-related literature from Cameroon published from 2005 to 2014. Titles were screened in duplicate.ResultsA total of 8624 studies were retrieved of which 721 were retained. The main challenges were making a choice of synthesis approach; selecting the right databases, data storage and management; and sustaining the team. Key opportunities include enhanced networking, a detailed appraisal of funding sources, international collaborations, language of publication, and issues with study design. The product is a comprehensive and informative body of evidence that can be used to inform policy with regards to international collaboration, location of research studies, language of publication, knowledge areas of focus, and gaps.ConclusionKnowledge synthesis approaches can be adapted for appraisal of country-specific research and offer opportunities for in-depth appraisal of research output.

show abstract

Section: Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and opportunities in country-specific research synthesis: a case study from Cameroon

Mbuagbaw

Cockburn

2017

Syst Rev

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Limited data on disability in Cameroon are available. However, a recent review by Ray et al (2017) identified five studies that addressed access to work amongst persons with specific impairments (for example visual impairments or related to HIV) in Cameroon, all of which documented unequal employment opportunities related to a combination of stigma, participation restrictions and restricted access to education[ 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livelihood opportunities amongst adults with and without disabilities in Cameroon and India: A case control study

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Proven links between disability and poverty suggest that development programmes and policies that are not disability-inclusive will leave persons with disabilities behind. Despite this, there is limited quantitative evidence on livelihood opportunities amongst adults with disabilities in Low and Middle Income Countries. This study adds to the limited evidence base, contributing data from one African and one Asian Setting. We undertook a population-based case–control study of adults (18+) with and without disabilities in North-West Cameroon and in Telangana State, India. We found that adults with disabilities were five times less likely to be working compared to age-sex matched controls in both settings. Amongst adults with disabilities, current age, marital status and disability type were key predictors of working. Inclusive programmes are therefore needed to provide adequate opportunities to participate in livelihood prospects for adults with disabilities in Cameroon and India, on an equal basis as others. These findings are of crucial importance at this stage of the Sustainable Development Agenda, to ensure that the mandate of inclusive development is achieved.

show abstract

“…The creation of materials specifi c to the NWR and rehabilitation is particularly noteworthy as there are no sustained rehabilitation research groups based in the region, and very few resources about rehabilitation that have been developed and published specifi cally for this context (Ray, Wallace, Mbuagbaw, and Cockburn, 2017). Although still limited, the production of materials by and for practitioners was inspiring, and encouraged many members to consider how they could continue to develop professional learning materials.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The GRID Network: A Community of Practice for Disability Inclusive Development

Cockburn

Mbibeh²,

Awa

2019

DCID

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: This paper aimed to provide an overview of the evaluation of the GRID Network (Groups for Rehabilitation and Inclusive Development) and the impact it had on its members.Method: Information was collected through a compilation of the resources developed during the project, and a summative evaluation process was employed at the end of the project. The paper is a short report on the summative evaluation.Results: GRID Network members reported that the network was effective and beneficial. They developed new information and knowledge that was relevant to their local contexts; shared knowledge from local, national, and international sources; and, increased their skill in using social media for professional purposes. Recommendations include continuing with this kind of community of practice, with greater opportunities for more engagement and training; inclusion of more partner organisations; large group workshops and conferences; increased attention to advocacy for policy change; and, for more research to be carried out locally.Conclusion and Implications: This project demonstrated that it is possible to develop and maintain a community of practice in a low-resource context on a minimal budget, even during times of political crisis. Further programme development, evaluation, and research are warranted to ascertain how this model can be scaled up to include a broader group of rehabilitation and other practitioners involved in disability inclusive development.

show abstract

Functioning and disability in recent research from Cameroon: a narrative synthesis

Cited by 10 publications

References 51 publications

Challenges and opportunities in country-specific research synthesis: a case study from Cameroon

Challenges and opportunities in country-specific research synthesis: a case study from Cameroon

Livelihood opportunities amongst adults with and without disabilities in Cameroon and India: A case control study

The GRID Network: A Community of Practice for Disability Inclusive Development

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About