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J. Hartman1,2, T. Holder3
1University of Belize, Allied Health, Belmopan, Belize, 2University of Wisconsin, Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health, Madison, United States, 3Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital, Physiotherapy, Belize City, Belize
Background: The World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘Rehab 2030’ vision highlights the global unmet need for rehabilitation and calls for coordinated efforts to raise the profile of rehabilitation as a health strategy by 2030. Rehab 2030 sets forth several key actions, one of which is building a high-quality rehabilitation workforce. The government of Belize, Central America acknowledges a lack of rehabilitation providers in country, specifically physiotherapists. To what extent is unknown.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to quantify and characterize the 2020 Belize Physiotherapy workforce as a means of bringing more awareness to the unmet need for rehabilitation in Belize.
Methods: A qualitative, phenomenological, in-depth interview methodology was used for this study. All non-military personnel licensed to practice physiotherapy by the Belize Ministry of Health or report practicing physiotherapy in Belize were invited to participate.
Results: The 2020 cohort of persons practicing physiotherapy in Belize consists of 17 formally trained physiotherapists. Fifteen of which consider physiotherapy their primary occupation. Physiotherapists working in Belize are native to six different countries, ten of whom are originally from Belize. All are trained in physiotherapy outside of Belize with three receiving doctorates and one a masters in physiotherapy. Thirteen received the equivalent of a bachelor’s or certificate. The average career of physiotherapists in Belize spans 17 years with most working Monday through Friday in private outpatient and home health settings within the most populated regions of Belize. This cohort of physiotherapists collectively believe increased community awareness, professional collaboration in the form of a formal physiotherapy association, and governmental investment in workforce development are all needed to improve access to physiotherapy and rehab services and to improve the overall health of their country.
Conclusion(s): The Belize cohort of physiotherapists is very diverse and experienced. While this study did not aim to definitively determine whether the current workforce of 17 formally trained physiotherapists meets the needs of the country, it is reasonable to speculate a rate of .42 physiotherapists per 10,000 people is inadequate. Especially when compared to other countries in the region. Findings also demonstrate an uneven distribution of services around the country. More comprehensive research investigating human resource needs in rehabilitation is needed.
Implications: These findings highlight the need for a Systemic Assessment of the Rehabilitation Situation (STARS) and a formal strategic plan that will work towards achieving WHO’s Rehab 2030 vision for Belize.
Funding, acknowledgements: This study was funded by U.S. Fulbright Scholar program in partnership with the U.S. Embassy and the University of Belize.
Keywords: physiotherapy, human resources, disability
Topic: Professional issues
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Committee: Health Sciences Institutional Review Board
Ethics number: ID 2019-1412
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
