Journal Articles

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Browsing Journal Articles by Subject "Disability"

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    A defence of identity for persons with disability : reflections from religion and philosophy versus ancient African culture
    (African Journal of Disability, 2019-02-19) Ojok, Patrick; Musenze, Junior B.
    Religion and philosophy follow the Hegelian dialectic, man as thesis, evil as antithesis and ideal man or God the final synthesis, locking out persons with disability stating that they don’t meet the criteria of being human persons. In contrast, persons with disability were accepted in ancient Africa and their disorder was not shown as a physical handicap. Objectives: The objective of this article was to critically examine how disability is constructed in philosophy and religion in comparison with African culture, in the shaping of disability identity as a form of humanity. Method: This article undertook a document review of both grey and peer reviewed literature. The papers reviewed were identified and screened for relevance, then analysed with the aim of comparing the portrayal of disability in philosophy, religion and ancient Africa. Results: Our analysis revealed that African cultures revered the disability identity, as opposed to philosophy and religion that portrayed it as abnormal. A person with disability was accepted in ancient Africa and given a visible role in society suggesting their integration in daily life activities while their disability was believed to be a blessing from the gods. Conclusion: Religion and philosophy have incredibly alienated persons with disabilities with linguistic and derogative identities. Whereas African spiritualism inherently glorified and/or approved disability, in today’s Africa, persons with disability are increasingly objectified and abused because of ignorance and harsh economic conditions. Nevertheless, the contemporary mistreatment of people with disabilities (PWDs) does not reflect a true African culture but is a symptom and a consequence of the material and economic injustice that PWDs encounter.
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    Participation of people with disabilities due to Leprosy, Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), and other causes in Uganda
    (Leprosy Review, 2024-06-18) Maholo, Carolyne Sserunkuma; Sembatya, Barbara Batesaki; Kawikizi, Moses; Mpambaara, Consolata; Sahayarani, Antony; Anil, Fastenau; Srilekha, Penna; Brakel, Wim H. van; Kasang, Christa
    Leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF) not only cause disfigurement and disability but also create social stigma hindering participation and inclusion of affected individuals. This is largely attributed to the limited knowledge and information about these conditions which contributes to misconceptions, exacerbating the stigma. This research project conducted in 2018–2019 investigated the participation of people with disabilities due to leprosy, LF, and other causes. A mixed-methods approach was applied, using the participation scale (v6.0), focus group discussions, observation, and semi-structured interviews to attain comprehensive conclusions on the various aspects of the study. Although the higher percentage perceive their disability to be moderate, 19.8% perceive their disability to be severe. A majority (59.4%) of the people affected by leprosy reported the need for protective footwear and other assistive devices. Although 26.5% experienced no participation restrictions at individual, family or community level, 24.8% experienced severe restrictions and 17% extreme participation restrictions. The study revealed that education played a pivotal role in mitigating participation restrictions across all categories. Those with higher education levels reported fewer restrictions, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address educational disparities. 42.9% of persons with disabilities with vocational/tertiary education indicated no participation restrictions while 37.3% of people affected by leprosy with no education reported severe participation restrictions. The assessment also explored various aspects of participation, including equal opportunities and responsibilities, social interaction and confidence, and personal wellbeing and health. Disparities were observed, with individuals affected by LF exhibiting higher levels of social interaction and confidence compared to those affected by leprosy and other disabilities. Knowledge and information, attitude, hygiene and lack of funds are key determinants of participation and inclusion of people affected by leprosy, LF, and disability due to other causes, while lack of information restricts effective planning for their inclusion. Improving self-care practices, providing knowledge and information on these conditions, and promoting equal access to resources and opportunities were identified is vital in enhancing participation and inclusion of the people affected by leprosy, LF and other disabilities. Accurate documentation, community-based rehabilitation, equal access to assistive devices, and advocacy efforts to combat stigma and promote understanding, are recommended to enhance participation and inclusion.