Accessing healthcare as a person with a rugby-related spinal cord injury in South Africa: The injured player’s perspective
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP)
Funders
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/ NRF South Africa Desmond Tutu Doctoral Scholarship
Oppenheimer Memorial Trust
Zuid-Afrikahuis Study foundation for South African students
Abstract
Background:
Rugby carries a risk for serious injuries, including acute spinal cord injuries. The lifetime health consequences of these injuries may be far-reaching.
Purpose:
In this study, we aimed to describe barriers and facilitators to healthcare and rehabilitation, in individuals with rugby-related spinal cord injuries in South Africa.
Methods:
This study adopted a pragmatic qualitative approach. Stratified purposive sampling was used to select interviews from players from a variety of socio-economic status and geographical areas for inclusion in this study. The final sample consisted of thirty-one (n = 31) participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results:
Participants described long-term, accessible, affordable, quality healthcare and rehabilitation as important contributors to their quality of life. Even though public healthcare is accessible from a cost point of view, quality of care, availability of rehabilitation services and factors such as affordability and availability of adequate transport remain a barrier for lower socio-economic groups.
Conclusion:
This population was unique, as the support from a dedicated organization enabled participants to overcome some barriers, highlighting the challenges of the healthcare system in maintaining the health of people with spinal cord injuries. Every effort should be made to create equitable access to healthcare and rehabilitation for persons with spinal cord injuries in South Africa.
DOI
10.1080/09593985.2021.1872753
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Badenhorst, M., Verhagen, E., Lambert, M., van Mechelen, W., & Brown, J. (2022). Accessing healthcare as a person with a rugby-related spinal cord injury in South Africa: The injured player’s perspective. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 38(11), 1639-1655.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2021.1872753