The general aim was to describe the characteristics and disability-related needs of children and adolescents with physical disabilities in the Kilimanjaro region, North-Eastern Tanzania. The specific aims are to: first, describe characteristics such as social demographics, types of diagnoses and self-reported complications; second, describe impairments (visual, hearing, speech, joint mobility) and activity limitations (communication, mobility, washing, toileting, dressing, eating, drinking), and third, describe the services available (nearby healthcare facilities, access to rehabilitation, possession of health insurance).
A cross-sectional community survey was conducted in the Kilimanjaro region from November 2020 to June 2021. The study involved 212 children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years with physical disabilities.Trained research assistants interviewed primary carers of children using a questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health – Children and Youth (ICF-CY) Framework. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27, and the Pearson chi-square test was applied to examine differences in needs based on age and sex.
Nearly 40% of participants had severe impairments in speech (n=84) and joint mobility (n=79), while more than half (n=124) faced severe or complete difficulties in walking. Most participants experienced severe or complete challenges with self-care tasks, including personal hygiene, toileting, dressing, eating, and drinking. Almost 70% (n=135) of households were located near health facilities that lacked rehabilitation services, and around a quarter (n=51) of participants had never received rehabilitation services. Additionally, over 90% of the children (n=196) required assistive devices, and 193 required therapeutic exercises, with more than three-quarters needing nutritional support (n=162)
Children and adolescents with physical disabilities in North-Eastern Tanzania experience significant impairments in speech, mobility, communication, self-care, and walking. Rehabilitation services, which are vital for addressing these limitations, are either unavailable or difficult to access. There is an urgent need to improve access to rehabilitation services in urban and rural areas to enhance the well-being of these children.
Understanding the magnitude of disability-related needs is essential for generating evidence to guide planners and stakeholders. Assessing the specific characteristics of disabilities is also vital in improving targeted interventions. This study highlights the critical need for services and support, including assistive devices and rehabilitation, to address the impairments and challenges children and their families face.
Adolescents
Physical disabilities
