Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impacts quality of life (QoL) through physical disabilities and reduced social participation. Objectives: This study compared health system indicators, social factors and self-reported QoL between individuals with SCI accessing public versus privat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-06-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Physiotherapy |
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| Online Access: | https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2133 |
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| author | Eugene Nizeyimana Anthea Rhoda Joyce Mothabeng Francois Theron Conran Joseph |
| author_facet | Eugene Nizeyimana Anthea Rhoda Joyce Mothabeng Francois Theron Conran Joseph |
| author_sort | Eugene Nizeyimana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impacts quality of life (QoL) through physical disabilities and reduced social participation.
Objectives: This study compared health system indicators, social factors and self-reported QoL between individuals with SCI accessing public versus private healthcare in South Africa.
Method: A cross-sectional survey using the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) community survey questionnaire was conducted with 200 SCI individuals (156 public, 44 private sector) from Cape Town and Pretoria. Chi-square tests and correlation analyses were performed.
Results: Significant disparities were observed between cohorts. Public sector participants reported higher rates of disability pension receipt (82.1% vs 54.5%) and greater challenges accessing various services. Overall, self-reported QoL was 56%, with the private cohort reporting significantly higher satisfaction (64% vs 52%). Private sector participants also reported higher satisfaction with living conditions and personal relationships. Access to disability pension and healthcare negatively correlated with QoL, while access to public spaces, medication, transport and nursing care positively correlated with QoL.
Conclusion: This study reveals significant disparities in health system performance, social factors and QoL between SCI individuals accessing public versus private healthcare in South Africa.
Clinical implications: Findings highlight the need to address systemic inequities in healthcare access and social support for individuals with SCI to improve QoL across sectors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2a18f786ab84e908a9fb0ca04f97d13 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0379-6175 2410-8219 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Physiotherapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2a18f786ab84e908a9fb0ca04f97d132025-08-20T03:29:14ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Physiotherapy0379-61752410-82192025-06-0181110.4102/sajp.v81i1.21331645Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injuryEugene Nizeyimana0Anthea Rhoda1Joyce Mothabeng2Francois Theron3Conran Joseph4Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape TownDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape TownDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PretoriaMeulmed Rehabilitation Hospital, PretoriaDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape TownBackground: Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impacts quality of life (QoL) through physical disabilities and reduced social participation. Objectives: This study compared health system indicators, social factors and self-reported QoL between individuals with SCI accessing public versus private healthcare in South Africa. Method: A cross-sectional survey using the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) community survey questionnaire was conducted with 200 SCI individuals (156 public, 44 private sector) from Cape Town and Pretoria. Chi-square tests and correlation analyses were performed. Results: Significant disparities were observed between cohorts. Public sector participants reported higher rates of disability pension receipt (82.1% vs 54.5%) and greater challenges accessing various services. Overall, self-reported QoL was 56%, with the private cohort reporting significantly higher satisfaction (64% vs 52%). Private sector participants also reported higher satisfaction with living conditions and personal relationships. Access to disability pension and healthcare negatively correlated with QoL, while access to public spaces, medication, transport and nursing care positively correlated with QoL. Conclusion: This study reveals significant disparities in health system performance, social factors and QoL between SCI individuals accessing public versus private healthcare in South Africa. Clinical implications: Findings highlight the need to address systemic inequities in healthcare access and social support for individuals with SCI to improve QoL across sectors.https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2133health systemsquality of lifesocial factorsspinal cord injurysouth africa. |
| spellingShingle | Eugene Nizeyimana Anthea Rhoda Joyce Mothabeng Francois Theron Conran Joseph Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury South African Journal of Physiotherapy health systems quality of life social factors spinal cord injury south africa. |
| title | Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury |
| title_full | Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury |
| title_fullStr | Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury |
| title_short | Health systems and quality of life: The situation of South Africans with spinal cord injury |
| title_sort | health systems and quality of life the situation of south africans with spinal cord injury |
| topic | health systems quality of life social factors spinal cord injury south africa. |
| url | https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2133 |
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