Capo-Chichi SJMH1, Sopoh GE2, Barogui YT3, Johnson RC3, Kpadonou GT4
1Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de l'Ulcère de Buruli (C.D.T.U.B), Allada, Benin, 2Institut Regional de Sante Publique, Universite d'Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin, 3Centre Interfacultaire de Formation et de Recherche en Environnement pour le Développement Durable, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin, 4Ecole de Kinésithérapie, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
Background: Environmental factors such as inaccessible buildings can be a disincentive for people with disabilities (PWD) to seek work, and may prevent them from accessing health care, leisure activities or even proper sanitation. Poverty can amplify these effects in low-income countries such as Benin. Benin has ratified many conventions including the United Nations Convention of the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and passed national laws including the protection and promotion of the rights of PWD. Despite these policies, the extent to which PWD are able to engage in activities of daily living (ADLs) in the Republic of Benin is not clear.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the level of participation of PWDs in Benin's economic capital city of Cotonou.
Methods: This study methodology consisted of 2 phases. Phase 1: We conducted a cross-sectional survey between September and November 2016. Convenience sampling was used, and the target populations included: (a) PWDs registered at the National Federation of Disabled People, (b) Resource persons and administrative officials representing pubic buildings, spaces, transport, health services, and family environment, (c) Managers within Cotonou City Council responsible for policies related to persons with disabilities. Phase 2: We then conducted an informal and random situational analysis of accessibility of government building in and around the capitol city of Cotonou.
Results: A total of 60 people completed the survey; including 39 PWDs and 21 resources persons, administrators and managers. Among the PWDs who participated, about 70% were between the ages of 18-45 years. 69% of PWDs were not in a relationship and about 52% had a high school education level. The majority of resource persons and administrative managers surveyed worked in schools and universities (33%), and most had high school education. Only 40% of the PWDs and 50% of the administrative staff surveyed had any knowledge that law existed to support PWDs in Benin, and of those who were aware, almost all reported that the laws were inadequate. About 95% of both PWD and administrative staff indicated that no provision was made to facilitate physical access. Moreover, regarding socio-professional relations, no company manager assigned major job responsibilities to the PWD even when they met required competencies. When observing the physical environment, 2 out of 12 buildings met international accessibility standards. For instance, no provisions were made for PWD access to public transport vehicles; no PWD living environment was developed according to the standards.
Conclusion(s): Despite the international commitments made by Benin to promote the rights of PWD, the results of this study report they may be insufficient and not implemented. Inadequate physical and socio-professional environments did not allow easy inclusion of PWD in life in Cotonou. All this could only accentuate the low participation of PWDs and reinforce the vicious circle of poverty.
Implications: This study suggests that provision of rehabilitation and physical therapy services must take into account the physical and socio-professional environment so that disability is taken into account in a broadest sense.
Keywords: Person with disability, physical environment, Cotonou
Funding acknowledgements: Unfunded
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the level of participation of PWDs in Benin's economic capital city of Cotonou.
Methods: This study methodology consisted of 2 phases. Phase 1: We conducted a cross-sectional survey between September and November 2016. Convenience sampling was used, and the target populations included: (a) PWDs registered at the National Federation of Disabled People, (b) Resource persons and administrative officials representing pubic buildings, spaces, transport, health services, and family environment, (c) Managers within Cotonou City Council responsible for policies related to persons with disabilities. Phase 2: We then conducted an informal and random situational analysis of accessibility of government building in and around the capitol city of Cotonou.
Results: A total of 60 people completed the survey; including 39 PWDs and 21 resources persons, administrators and managers. Among the PWDs who participated, about 70% were between the ages of 18-45 years. 69% of PWDs were not in a relationship and about 52% had a high school education level. The majority of resource persons and administrative managers surveyed worked in schools and universities (33%), and most had high school education. Only 40% of the PWDs and 50% of the administrative staff surveyed had any knowledge that law existed to support PWDs in Benin, and of those who were aware, almost all reported that the laws were inadequate. About 95% of both PWD and administrative staff indicated that no provision was made to facilitate physical access. Moreover, regarding socio-professional relations, no company manager assigned major job responsibilities to the PWD even when they met required competencies. When observing the physical environment, 2 out of 12 buildings met international accessibility standards. For instance, no provisions were made for PWD access to public transport vehicles; no PWD living environment was developed according to the standards.
Conclusion(s): Despite the international commitments made by Benin to promote the rights of PWD, the results of this study report they may be insufficient and not implemented. Inadequate physical and socio-professional environments did not allow easy inclusion of PWD in life in Cotonou. All this could only accentuate the low participation of PWDs and reinforce the vicious circle of poverty.
Implications: This study suggests that provision of rehabilitation and physical therapy services must take into account the physical and socio-professional environment so that disability is taken into account in a broadest sense.
Keywords: Person with disability, physical environment, Cotonou
Funding acknowledgements: Unfunded
Topic: Disability & rehabilitation; Globalisation: health systems, policies & strategies
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: CIFRED/ University of Abomey-Calavi/ Benin
Ethics committee: Committee in charge of delivering authorization of collect data
Ethics number: No specific number
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
