Considerations for the provision of prosthetic services in post-disaster contexts: the Haiti Amputee Coalition

Abstract

Following the 2010 earthquake, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer and Hanger Prosthetics founded a prosthetics shop in rural Haiti. This research explored barriers to clients’ continued use of their limb, with the goal of improving programming and thus increasing rates of success. Methods used included ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The participants included retrospective and prospective prosthetic users as well as in-house clients. Data were collected from over 100 individuals. Despite gratitude for the services, many clients reported they did not utilize their limbs on a daily basis and provided insightful critiques to the programme and suggestions for improvement. Lack of clear communication with the clients was a major problem in the programme. Clients expressed gratitude for the sense of community within the programme but noted the lack of outreach after discharge. Other important concerns were programme sustainability and the provision of more holistic care for individuals with disabilities.

Keywords:

• amputation
• prosthetics
• disaster relief

Acknowledgements

This research was made possible by a grant from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. The researchers would also like to thank the University of Calgary’s International Office for their financial support. Special thanks to Mr. Shaun Cleaver and Dr. Ian Rawson of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer whose practical support made this research possible. Gail Buck and Al Ingersoll of Healing Hands for Haiti were instrumental in the provision of transcription services by their staff member Yasmine Edouard. Thanks to Jeannie Halmo for report formatting and Kathy Dirk for support in project implementation.