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• Another (4) 16% were seen by the medical practitioner, (2) 4%, and by the ordinary
professional nurse (2) 4%. The reason for this is that rehabilitation team were not all
available in public hospitals, and therefore these amputees had to report their
problems with the prosthesis to the personnel available.
• Only one (1) 4% amputee managed to be seen by the rehabilitation nurse for further
education about the prosthesis.
6.5.2.2 PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITAnON
Psychosocial rehabilitation includes psychological care and rehabilitative care given to
amputees by the rehabilitation team.
65.2.2.1 PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE
Psychological care involves adjusting to change in body image. The role ofthe rehabilitation
team is to assist the client and the family to achieve a positive response, assist with
acceptance ofphysical impairment and to adjust to the environment following disability.
The findings ofthe study revealed that all the members ofthe health team were involved in
this aspect:
• Most amputees (20) 80% were given a chance to be with their family members and
relatives to share their experiences, except (5) 20% whose families were far from the
hospitals where they were admitted.
• Diversional therapy was provided in the form of:
o Television in all wards where the amputees were admitted (25) 100%.
o Ten (10) 40% accessed newspapers, which were provided by their families.
• Fifteen (15) 60% amputees managed to get a chance to visit old coping amputees for
support; this assisted amputees to know how other amputees were coping with their
disabilities.
• Ten (10) 40% amputees managed to visit the limb-fitting centre to share their
experiences with amputees whose stumps had healed and were to fit their prosthesis.
It also helped them to see different types ofprostheses.
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