Experiences accessing and using rehabilitation services for people with physical disabilities in Sierra Leone

Figures & data

Table 1. Information on participant (N = 38) characteristics.

Characteristic	Participants, n (%)
Sex
Male	22 (57.9)
Female	16 (42.1)
Religion
Christian	25 (65.8)
Muslim	12 (31.6)
Unknown	1 (2.6)
Tribe
Temne	14 (36.8)
Limba	6 (15.8)
Mende	5 (13.2)
Mandingo	4 (10.5)
Fullah	3 (7.9)
Kono	2 (5.3)
Krio	2 (5.3)
Loko	1 (2.6)
Ekona	1 (2.6)
Unknown	1 (2.6)
Area of residence
Urban	20 (52.6)
Rural	10 (26.3)
Slum	7 (18.4)
Disability
Lower limb impairment
Poliomyelitis	13 (34.2)
Above-knee amputation	7 (18.4)
Below-knee amputation	4 (10.5)
Dysmelia	1 (2.6)
Hip injury	1 (2.6)
Bilateral below-knee amputation	1 (2.6)
Upper limb impairment
Upper limb amputation	2 (5.3)
Visual impairment
Blind	5 (13.2)
Paraplegia
Stroke	3 (7.9)
Quadriplegic	1 (2.6)

Figure 1. Analytical model showing the development of themes from sub-themes in the data.

Table 2. Example of the data analysis process.

Meaning unit	Condensed meaning unit	Code
“Sometimes when I go there they won't receive me well, because when I went there, the first man that I saw, I greeted him, he did not respond, I greeted him again and he did respond until my partner, the person that went there with me, chased him and told him that please we are here for help, we are here for wheelchair and crutches, but we are not here empty-handed. That is when he decided to listen to them. Cause if not, most of the time when you come there with nothing, they say here is not for free, we don't have crutches or wheelchair, but if you say you have something like … that is when they listen to you. The only thing is some people are too harsh. Most times when you talk to them, they will not listen to you just because you don’t have money to give them” (Participant 23, Poliomyelitis)	Sometimes when I go there, they won’t receive me well. The first man I saw, I greeted, he did not respond. I greeted him again. He didn't respond until the person that went with me chased him and told him "please we are here for help, we are here for wheelchair and crutches, we are not here empty-handed". That's when he decided to listen to us. Most of the time when you go there, they say it's not for free, we don't have crutches or wheelchair, but if you say you have something that is when they listen. Some people are too harsh. Most times when you talk, they will not listen just because you don't have money	Quality of treatment is dependent on the ability to pay
“I want to believe that the physio is helping me more than ever before. Yeah. I was not walking before now, now I can walk! I was not able to take my bath, but now I can take my bath. I became speechless, yeah, for two weeks, I was unable to talk when I got the attack, but no I can communicate, so I want to believe it is doing me more good!” (Participant 11, Stroke)	I want to believe that physio is helping me more than ever. I was not walking before, now I can walk! I was not able to take my bath, but now I can bath. For two weeks, I was unable to talk, but now I can communicate. I want to believe it is doing me good!	Experiencing improvements in functioning after stroke through physiotherapy

Data availability

The data used for this paper is only be available by a reasonable request.