“When I Grow up I Would Like to Be …”: Factors Affecting Career Choice of Community Disability Workers in Southern Africa

Abstract

The effectiveness of community based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes depends on the calibre of staff recruited and employed. Therefore, this study aimed to understand how the life experiences of community disability workers (CDWs) in Malawi, Botswana and South Africa influenced their choice of career. A life history approach was used to gather data from 16 CDWs, involving two interviews of each participant. Disability Studies postgraduate students conducted the interviews and analysed the data with academic staff, using thematic content analysis. It was found that lack of career guidance and information about community disability work affected participants’ initial choice of career. Some ended up in CBR because poor schooling prevented them from choosing other careers. Personal experience of disability and exposure to role models in rehabilitation motivated the career choice of some. The authors make recommendations including the selection of trainees with personal experience of disability and CDWs mentoring potential recruits.

Keywords:

• career choice
• community based rehabilitation
• community disability workers
• life history
• recruitment
• selection of personnel
• South Africa

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Programme for the Enhancement of Research Capacity at the Research Office, University of Cape Town, for funding this study. The authors are grateful for the input and discussions from colleagues Prof Roy McConkey, Dr Margie Booyens, Dr Ermien van Pletzen and Ms Dorothy Chinguo. The input of the post-graduate students, Sylvester Butao, Bryson Kabaso, Zelda Mubi and Khadija Mashuke, is gratefully acknowledged as is the willingness of the community disability workers to be interviewed. Thanks are also extended to Mrs Maria Zuurmond and Mr Joerg Weber for providing guidance for the writing of this article.

Disclosure statement

The authors had no financial or other conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The findings reported here are based on research supported by the Programme for the Enhancement of Research Capacity, Research Office, University of Cape Town and no restrictions have been imposed on free access to, or publication of, the research data. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the University of Cape Town. Opinions reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the funding agency.