Accessibility barriers of people with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the accessibility barriers of people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Objectives: To find out the accessibility barriers of people with Spinal Cord Injury, to identify the socio-demographic information, to explore the patient’s physical, emotional, perceptions, attitudes and environmental barriers, to clarify the socio-demographic factors for such exposure group in relation to age, sex, occupation, living areas. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional. Total 40 samples were selected conveniently for this study from the community. Data was collected by using mixed type of questionnaire. Descriptive statistic was used for data analysis which focused through table, pie chart and bar chart. Results: The finding of the study was that the participants in the domains family role, work & education and social life & relationships were insufficient, poor and very poor participation was mostly found in items in the domains of family role, work & education and social life & relationships. Especially helping or supporting other people around 31 (77.5%) faces barrier in domains of social life & relationships, 25 (62.5%) faces difficulty in minor repairs and maintenance work done in domains of family role and33 (82.5%)faces barrier to getting the education or training in domains of work and education. Among association between socio-demographic and all domains of IPA questionnaire most of the items of autonomy indoor are highly significant and access to occupation is the most important variable in predicting perceived severe problems with participation on maximum items such as activities in and around the house, looking after the money & social life and relations, highly association in earning member with leisure. Conclusion: Accessibility is a major important issue in people with SCI. The consequences of barriers are higher in the working group in comparison with the nonworking population. Appropriate identification may reduce the barriers of people with Spinal Cord Injury. These results of this study also provided background information about spinal cord injury that may be useful in minimize the accessibility barriers of people with spinal cord injury