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What do we know about how to support mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic from past infectious disease epidemics?

QURESH, Onaiza
SCHERER, Nathaniel
July 2020

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The question and the problem:

Symptoms of mental ill-health are common during widespread outbreak of an infectious disease, with high rates of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reported during recent epidemics, such as the recent Ebola crises and SARS-CoV-1. Elevated symptoms of mental ill-health are not limited to patients only, and are seen in healthcare workers, family members and indeed more widely across the general population. Early evidence coming from the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates high rates of mental ill-health and mental health service provision is needed. This evidence brief summarises evidence on mental health support during COVID-19 and other recent pandemics, informing policy and practice during this crisis.

The ScoPeO tool : measuring the impact of our interventions : quality of life, safety and social and family protection

HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL
2015

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This advocacy briefing paper presents information about Handicap International’s ScoPeO tool which is a data collection tool to help measure outcomes of development initiatives on the quality of life (QOL) of beneficiaries who have accessed our projects and those of our partners. This brief highlights the need to measure quality of life and provides an overview of how ScoPeO works along with a case study from Rwanda. It outlines how humanitarian and development actors can measure impact and suggests ways to measure progress

Advocacy briefing paper

Policy implementation in wheelchair service delivery in a rural South African setting

VISAGIE, Surona
SCHEFFLER, Elsje
SCHNEIDER, Marguerite
2013

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Background: Wheelchairs allow users to realise basic human rights and improved quality of life. South African and international documents guide rehabilitation service delivery and thus the provision of wheelchairs. Evidence indicates that rehabilitation policy implementation gaps exist in rural South Africa.

 

Objectives: The aim of this article was to explore the extent to which wheelchair service delivery in a rural, remote area of South Africa was aligned with the South African National Guidelines on Provision of Assistive Devices, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and The World Health Organization Guidelines on Provision of Wheelchairs in Less-Resourced Settings.

 

Method: Qualitative methods were used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 participants who were identified through purposive sampling. Content analysis of data was preformed around the construct of wheelchair service delivery.

 

Results: Study findings identified gaps between the guiding documents and wheelchair service delivery. Areas where gaps were identified included service aspects such as referral, assessment, prescription, user and provider training, follow up, maintenance and repair as well as management aspects such as staff support, budget and monitoring. Positive findings related to individual assessments, enthusiastic and caring staff and the provision of wheelchairs at no cost.

 

Conclusion: The gaps in policy implementation can have a negative impact on users and the service provider. Inappropriate or no wheelchairs limit user function, participation and quality of life. In addition, an inappropriate wheelchair will have a shorter lifespan, requiring frequent repairs and replacements with cost implications for the service provider.

Position paper on deaf education in Rwanda

RWANDA NATIONAL UNION OF THE DEAF (RNUD)
January 2013

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As part of the Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD)'s advocacy strategy to improve the quality of life for Deaf communities in Rwanda, this position paper provides detailed information and concrete solutions and ideas for the way forward

Incheon strategy to "make the right real" for the persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP)
November 2012

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"This report presents information about 'The Incheon Strategy' which provides the Asian and Pacific region, and the world, with the first set of regionally agreed disability-inclusive development goals. Developed over more than two years of consultations with governments and civil society stakeholders, the Incheon Strategy comprises 10 goals, 27 targets and 62 indicators. The Incheon Strategy builds on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. The Incheon Strategy will enable the Asian and Pacific region to track progress towards improving the quality of life, and the fulfillment of the rights, of the region’s 650 million persons with disabilities, most of whom live in poverty"
ST/ESCAP/2648

AusAID development for all strategy : mid-term review

KELLY, Linda
WAPLING, Lorraine
October 2012

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This report presents the findings and outcomes of the mid-term review (MTR) of the AusAUD Development for All Strategy which was launched in November 2008 and covers a period of five years from 2009 to 2014, with specific funding allocated against the Strategy from 2010. The strategy’s intention is to strengthen the effectiveness of Australia's aid program by ensuring that people with disability contribute to and benefit from the program
"The report is structured around four sections. This background section introduces the Strategy and the history and rationale of AusAID focus on disability-inclusive development. The second section outlines the methodology and approach for the MTR. The third and major section presents the findings of the review against the five outcome areas of the Strategy with a short discussion following each presentation of findings. The final section concludes the discussion overall and outlines the recommendations arising from the MTR"

Family perceptions of intellectual disability: Understanding and support in Dar es Salaam

ALDERSEY, Heather M
2012

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When attempting to understand the construct of intellectual disability in different contexts, speaking to family members in addition to the individual with the disability may provide new insight about understandings of and responses to intellectual disability in society and may help to identify the forms of support that are available or needed to ensure the quality of life of people with disabilities. This article outlines and discusses interviews that were conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with family members of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. These interviews explore how families came to understand that their child had an intellectual disability; the availability of family support; and family hopes and dreams for the future, and were a part of a wider exploratory study that gathered insight from individuals with disabilities, families, and other providers of support to explore understandings and perceptions of disability in Dar es Salaam. Understanding family experiences will help researchers, policy makers, non-governmental organisations, and others to identify family strengths and family support needs which can ultimately improve family quality of life and the quality of life of the member with a disability.

The provision of wheeled mobility and positioning devices

GARTON, Francesca
URSEAU, Isabelle
July 2012

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This policy brief provides an overview of Handicap International’s 2012 policy paper on the provision of wheeled mobility and positioning devices (WP&MD) for people with disabilities
PP Brief No 9
Note: this policy should be read in conjunction with Handicap International’s rehabilitation policy paper which provides a broad framework for understanding the organization’s work on rehabilitation, including WP & MD

Insights on ageing : a survey report

WILLIAMS, Jennifer
2011

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This report presents the results of a survey administered in 32 countries which highlight the situation of older people around the world today. The information presented in the survey report provides insights into what older people around the world think about ageing and what they would like to see their governments do to make living in older age better. This resource is useful for people interested in the global situation of older people

Institutional care for older people in developing countries : the case of Buenos Aires, Argentina

SHERLOCK-LLOYD, Peter
REDONDO, Nelida
2009

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"This paper examines the quality of care provided by old age homes in developing countries. It draws attention to the growing demand for such services and the emergence of a largely unregulated private sector. The paper reviews the findings of a survey of 101 private old age homes conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina during 2004 and 2005. This reveals that the quality of care leaves much to be desired, and that the rights, autonomy and dignity of older people are often neglected. Particular issues of concern are the repressive managerial structures (including the use of restraints and medication), questionable processes of admission, and limited support for dependent residents. The paper calls for long term care to be given a higher policy profile in developing countries than is currently the case"
Journal of Population Ageing, Vol 2, No 1-2

What is the effectiveness of community based rehabilitation in improving the well-being of adults with physical disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa?|Policy recommendations for international non-government organizations

BOGGS, Dorothy
2008

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This policy report examines the effectiveness of community based rehabilitation (CBR) in improving the well-being of people with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa and provides recommendations to international NGOs for improving CBR strategy
Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
The user has given permission for the uploaded document to be reproduced and made publicly available on the Source website

Impacts of poverty on quality of life in families of children with disabilities

PARK, Jiyeon
TURNBULL, Ann P
TURNBULL, H. Rutherford
2002

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This literature review examines the impact of poverty on the quality of life in families of children with disabilities in the USA. The article examines the impact of poverty relating to the five dimensions of family, including health, productivity, physical environment, emotional well-being and family interaction. It provides suggestions for policy, research and practices. This article is useful for people interested in the impact of poverty on the quality of life in families of children with disabilities in the USA
Exceptional Children Journal, Vol 68, No 2

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