Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Spinal cord injury is described as one of the most devastating
neurological impairment. It has profound effects on both the spinal injured
person and their spouses.
Objectives: The objectives are to identify the physical and psychosocial
impact, identify the physical and psychosocial impact on the wives, and
identify the impact on affecting relationship and intimacy.
Methodology: The study was a phenomenological qualitative research design
to collect in-depth information of participants‟ perception. Purposive sampling
was used and nine participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected.
Semi-structured, face to face interviews were conducted to collect the data.
Result and Discussion: Most of the SCI patients has loss of movement and
sensory, loss of bowel and bladder control. For these reason the wives of the
persons with SCI have to handle their husband. They face different physical
problems such as low back pain, hand pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and other
problems due to handle their husbands. The wives of the person with SCI has
worries, mental pressure about how to manage their family. They cannot
perform their daily living activities according to previous routine. The research
also indicates that most of the participants have intimate relationship with their
husbands. They face difficulties with their father-in-laws house, because the
people of father-in-law‟s house do not maintain communication and does not
help economically. On the other hand they do not face any difficulties with
their relatives.
Conclusion: Wives of the persons with SCI have negative impact on their
physical, psychosocial component. They have also impacts on relationship with
husband, family members and relative as well.
