Research Report Abstracts - Gesundheit

eS994
used to test the strength of the relationship between knowledge
and attitudes and alpha level was set as p < 0.05.
Results: The study sample demonstrated average levels of
knowledge regarding obesity with scores ranging from 3 to 9
on a scale of 10 with a mean score of 6.05. An overwhelming
majority of the participants (>80%) viewed obesity as largely
a behavioral problem while nearly all participants characterized
obese people as lazy, unattractive, insecure and with
lower self-esteem. The correlation between knowledge and
attitudes was very weak (r = 0.094, p = 0.22).
Conclusions: The study has reinforced the need for a more
focused approach to the education of physiotherapy students
related to obesity and obesity related conditions and the management
there of. This is of vital importance as there is indeed
evidence of the effectiveness for physiotherapy management
in musculoskeletal conditions, type 2 diabetes, respiratory
problems and stress incontinence in the obese individual.
Implications: Physiotherapy education should emphasize
the vital role of physiotherapy in the management and treatment
of obese individuals.
Keywords: Students; Attitudes; Obesity
Funding acknowledgements: The University of the Western
Cape, South Africa.
Ethics approval: Permission and ethical clearance was
granted by the Ethics Committee at the University of the
Western Cape.
Research Report Platform Presentation
Number: RR-PL-3194 Wednesday 22 June 16:45
RAI: E104-105
THE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF
REFUGEES WITH DISABILITIES IN ZAMBIA
Mulenga D., Phillips J.
University of the Western Cape, Physiotherapy, Cape Town,
South Africa
Purpose: There are about 125 million refugees worldwide
with Zambia being home to 175 584. The study aims to determine
the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of refugees
with physical disabilities living in one of the biggest refugee
camps in Zambia.
Relevance: Political violence in civil war and ethnic conflicts
has generated millions of refugees and displaced people
across the African continent with unbelievable pictures of
suffering and unnecessary death. Forced immigration in most
cases is compounded by unprecedented human health problems
as a result of traumatic life experiences. Atrocities affect
both the mental and the physical well being of the refugees.
Physical disability is one of the health problems faced by the
refugees more especially in post war circumstances.
Participants: The study population included approximately
2500 refugees with disabilities living in one of the biggest
refugee camps in Zambia. Stratified random sampling, with
age category as stratum, was used to select 314 refugees to
participate in the study.
Methods: The study used a cross sectional descriptive study
design with data collected with a structured self-administered
questionnaire. To assess HRQOL, the World Health Organization
Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)
including four domains (physical health, psychological,
social relations and environment), were used.
Analysis: Analysis was done using the statistical software
SAS v9. Spearman Rank Correlations and the Kruskal–Wallis
tests were used to determine factors associated with HRQOL.
Alpha level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The majority of the participants (68.8%) had a lower
limb disability. Gunshots, landmines and bomb explosions
were the cause for the disability for 88.9% of the participants.
More than half (54.8%) of the participants rated their
quality of life as either very poor or poor, while 37.3% rated it
as neither poor nor good. The mean score for physical health,
psychological, social relations and environment domains
were 41.4, 49.4, 70.1 and 37.7 respectively. Education was
significantly related to the psychological (p = 0.0022) and
social relations (p = 0.0324) domains.
Conclusions: Working with refugees is both rewarding and
challenging. Refugees may show signs of anxiety and depression
as a result of the trauma they have experienced and this
will have an impact on the progress of rehabilitation.
Implications: Physiotherapists working with refugees may
be exposed to a high degree of distress in listening to their
accounts of their experiences. Physiotherapist should recognize
their limitations and vulnerabilities when dealing with
refugees. They might not have the necessary skills and should
form networks with others, both within and outside their
discipline, involved in this work.
Keywords: Refugees; Disabilities; Violence
Funding acknowledgements: Ministry of Health, Zambia.
Ethics approval: Ethical clearance was obtained from the
University of the Western Cape.