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who were educated by a prosthetist who is a specialist in this field. This argument is
supported by Kubheka and Uys (1995:45), that amputees are educated bythe prosthetist
on how to care and use the prosthetist as weD as care ofthe amputated limb. Education of
amputees by the members ofthe rehabilitation team who are not specialists in the use and
care of prosthesis cause a downfall in rehabilitation. The amputees who did not get
enough infonnation failed to use the prosthesis correctly and ended up not using their
prosthesis.
PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE
The inclusion ofthis item was based on the fact that the amputees experience problems
with adjusting to change in body image. They therefore need support and encouragement
to be in touch with reality.
5.5.4 ITEM 15 PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE GIVEN
TABLE 5.13 SUPPORT GIVEN TO AMPUTEES
Support Given Yes Percentage No Percentage
Visited an Old Coping Amputee 15 60% 10 40%
Visited LimbFitting Clinic 10 40% IS 60%
Provision ofTelevision - Donated 25 100% - -
Provision ofNewspapers 10 40% 15 60%
Provision ofTIme with Visitors 20 80% 5 20%
Consultation byPsychologist Lacking 2 8% 23 92%
Consultation byPsychiatrist Lacking 2 8% 23 92%
Table 5.I3 indicates that (25) 100% amputees were provided with television which were
donated and others provided by Department ofHealth to the hospitals where they were
admitted; (20) 80% of amputees were given the opportunity to be visited and have time
with their visitors, whereas (5) 20% were not visited by their relatives as their homes
were far from the hospitals where they were admitted; (IS) 60% amputees were given
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