Tekula Litakazi, Engelbrecht Madri, Ned Lieketseng
Division for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tygerberg Campus, Stellenbosch University, Room 4006, 4th Floor, Education Building, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Apr 4;22(4):567. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22040567.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent hard lockdown in South Africa, implemented in March 2020, significantly disrupted disability and rehabilitation services. Persons with disabilities experienced limited access to essential Orthotic and Prosthetic services, particularly in rural provinces such as the Eastern Cape. This study aimed to explore how Medical Orthotists and Prosthetists reconfigured their services during and after the pandemic to inform disability-inclusive emergency responses. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 12 Medical Orthotists and Prosthetists practicing in the public sector in the Eastern Cape. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via MS Teams, and the data were analysed by using thematic analysis to identify key themes related to service disruptions and adaptations. Four main themes emerged: (1) disrupted access to Orthotic and Prosthetic services, (2) backlogs and limited services, (3) safety measures and adaptation control, and (4) lingering challenges and gaps. Service delivery was hindered by halted outreach clinics, limited access to materials, budget reallocations, and the deprioritisation of rehabilitation services. This study highlights the challenges faced by Medical Orthotists and Prosthetists in maintaining the functionality of Orthotic and Prosthetic services during the pandemic. These findings emphasise the need for disability-inclusive policies and strategies to ensure the continuity of rehabilitation services during emergencies.
2020年3月在南非实施的新冠疫情及随后的严格封锁，严重扰乱了残疾人和康复服务。残疾人获得基本矫形和假肢服务的机会有限，尤其是在东开普等农村省份。本研究旨在探讨医学矫形师和假肢师在疫情期间及之后如何重新配置他们的服务，以为包容性残疾应急响应提供信息。对在东开普公共部门执业的12名医学矫形师和假肢师进行了一项描述性定性研究。通过微软团队进行了半结构化访谈，并使用主题分析对数据进行分析，以确定与服务中断和调整相关的关键主题。出现了四个主要主题：（1）矫形和假肢服务的获取中断，（2）积压和服务有限，（3）安全措施和调整控制，以及（4）持续存在的挑战和差距。外展诊所暂停、材料获取受限、预算重新分配以及康复服务的优先级降低，阻碍了服务的提供。本研究突出了医学矫形师和假肢师在疫情期间维持矫形和假肢服务功能方面面临的挑战。这些发现强调了制定包容性残疾政策和战略以确保紧急情况下康复服务连续性的必要性。
