Perception about empowerment among women with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Purpose: Spinal cord injured women are just a small portion of the overall disability population. As they are minority group of people, they often negatively influenced on the path of their empowerment in male domain society. They faced different obstacles related to health, decision making, finance and also stigmatization in community participation. So, it is important to find out their perception about empowerment among women with Spinal cord injury. Objectives: To explore their different experiences, needs and perception about empowerment of various aspect of lives and potential support that can help them participation in community with dignity among women with SCI in rural and urban area. Methodology: Phenomenological approach of qualitative research method has been employed in this study. Through purposive sampling technique, ten women with Spinal Cord Injury have been selected for the study. Face-to-face unstructured interviews were conducted following a self-developed interview guide. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated before being analysed thematically according to Braun and Clark’s six steps analysis. Result: Five themes were arisen from the finding: 5) Enhance knowledge about empowerment, ii) Effectively managing and adapting with disability, iii) Valuing their decision in inclusive family participation, iv) Inhibitors of financial empowerment of women, v) Self-determination in community participation. Conclusion: In this research participants express their emotion of being isolation in family and community, capacity of activity, understanding about their empowerment and experience of participating in society. Where everyone’s life challenges are different in rural and urban area according to economical involvement and their knowledge. On the other hand, participants acquire skills to coping with disability that helps them successful community reintegration also have positive health behavior. Key word: Empowerment, Women, Perception, Spinal Cord Injury Abstract