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other disabled families there is a project for occupational rehabilitation that is running in
the Manguzi area. This project is for discharged patients.
5.6.3 ITEM 28 INFORM,\.nON GIVEN ON DISCHARGE
Health education ofthe patient on discharge is very important for the continuity ofcare,
even after discharge. This is the reason why this item was included as there should be no
break in the patient's treatments.
TABLE 5.16 INFORMATION GIVEN ON DISCHARGE
Information Given on Discharge Frequency Percentage
Rehabilitation Services - Follow up 24 96
Care ofSelf 24 96
Bandaging ofStump/Coning 24 96
Care ofProsthesis 20 80
No Information Given 1 4
Table 5.16 indicates that the majority of the amputees were given information on
discharge; {24} 96% amputees were given information about follow-up dates for visits to
the rehabilitation services or hospital clinics, care ofselfwhich involves general hygiene,
exercises, nutrition 10 promote resistance and wound and bone healing as well as care of
the stump, dressing and bandaging {coning} and care of the prosthesis. Only {I} 4%
amputee reported that he was not given any information by the rehabilitation team but
heard what other amputees were saying and observed what they were doing. This should
be improves as all patients have a right to get the information they need. Mbeki {1997:37}
supports this statement by saying people with disabilities should have access to full
information on personal health, education and social aspects affecting their lives. In spite
ofthe information given to {24} 96% of the amputees, they ended up going back to the
hospitals for minor problems like dressings which couldnot be obtained from community
clinics. The amputees who visited community clinics reported that their needs could not
be met as clinics had no resources.
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