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5.7.5 ITEM 34 PROGRESS MONITORING
The progress of the patient is monitored until the patient is ready for 'discharge and
prepared for community reintegration. Progress monitoring is continuous even after
discharge, though the amputees have to attend community rehabilitation centres which
are not available in all communities. This item was therefore included to ascertain if
amputees were followed up.
TABLE 5.19 COMMUNITYREHABlLlTATION CElItTRES USED FOR PROGRESS
MO!\TIORlNG
Rehabilitation Centres Frequency Percentage
Community Rehabilitation Centre 0 0
Hospital 19 76%
Never Monitored Progress 6 24%
Total 25 100%
Table 5.19 indicates thatthe majority ofthe amputees were monitored in the hospital (19)
76% as there were no community rehabilitation services (0) 0%. The progress of(6) 24%
.ofthe respondents were never monitored at all; and they visited health centres only when
they had problems with their stumps or when requiring the renewal of the disability
grants. The reason for not monitoring their progress was financial problems as they were
breadwinners depending on the disability grant, and health centres were very far away.
They were assisted by fatnily members until their stumps healed well and were able to
use their rehabilitation aids. The amputees (19) 76% that monitored their progress in the
hospital were initially referred to the community health services, but were frequently sent
back to the referring hospitals because community services had no resources to cater for
these clients. This is supported by Mpanza and Van Tonder (1994:76) that the key
helpers of the amputees were mostly women, with 85% of them being wives of the
amputees. Chilvers and Browse (1981) in Kubheka and Uys (2001:72) support this
statement thatamputees donot bave sources ofassistance for their practical problems and
thatrelatives were the most common helpers.
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