Department of Health Informatics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2024 May;19(4):1748-1757. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2233981. Epub 2023 Aug 1.
Despite the recognized benefits, access to assistive technology (AT) remains limited. Identifying the current usage patterns and unmet needs of AT users could help address the challenges of students with disabilities. Thus, this study aimed to investigate AT use and its associated factors.
An institution-based cross-sectional mixed study was conducted on higher education students with disabilities in Ethiopia. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and an in-depth interview technique were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models were used to analyse the quantitative data, while inductive thematic analysis was undertaken for the qualitative data.
A total of 233 (74.68%) with (95% CI: 70%-80%) students with disabilities used at least one form of AT. Four themes emerged which include experiences of AT use and disability, benefits and challenges of using AT, perception of the community towards AT, and responsibility for the provision of AT. Students with vision problems or those with severe disability types were most likely to be AT users.
A significant proportion of students with disabilities had unmet needs for AT. Capacity at universities or rehabilitation centres would enhance access, usage of AT, and the unmet needs of students with disabilities.
尽管辅助技术（AT）具有公认的益处，但获取它的机会仍然有限。确定 AT 用户的当前使用模式和未满足的需求，可以帮助解决残疾学生面临的挑战。因此，本研究旨在调查 AT 的使用情况及其相关因素。
本研究在埃塞俄比亚开展了一项基于机构的横断面混合研究，涉及残疾的高等教育学生。使用访谈者管理的问卷和深入访谈技术收集数据。使用描述性统计和二元逻辑回归模型分析定量数据，同时对定性数据进行归纳主题分析。
共有 233 名（95%置信区间：70%-80%）残疾学生至少使用了一种形式的 AT。出现了四个主题，包括 AT 使用和残疾的体验、使用 AT 的益处和挑战、社区对 AT 的看法，以及提供 AT 的责任。视力问题或严重残疾类型的学生最有可能成为 AT 用户。
相当一部分残疾学生对 AT 有未满足的需求。大学或康复中心的能力将增强残疾学生获取、使用 AT 的机会，满足他们的未满足需求。
