Jamali-Phiri, Monica and Ebuenyi, Ikenna D. and Smith, Emma M. and Kafumba, Juba Alyce and MacLachlan, Malcolm and Munthali, Alister (2021) Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing the Use of Assistive Technology among Children with Disabilities in Malawi. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (6). p. 3062. ISSN 1660-4601

Preview

Download (965kB) | Preview

Abstract

Abstract: This paper aims to address the information gap on the influence of socio-demographic factors on access and utilization of Assistive Technology (AT) among children with disabilities in Malawi. Thus, it contributes towards the realization of the recommendations of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities and the development of a framework for creating an effective national AT policy. The paper used two statistically matched datasets, namely, the 2017 survey on Living conditions among persons with disabilities in Malawi and the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health survey. Logistic regression and structural equation modeling techniques were utilized to assess the influence of socio-demographic factors on the use of AT among children with disabilities. The results indicate that there is a high level of unmet need for AT among young children aged 2 to 9 and those living in urban areas. The results further indicate that children with multiple disabilities have lower odds (OR = 0.924) of using AT for personal mobility compared to children with a single functional difficulty. These results entail that AT needs for children with multiple disabilities are not adequately addressed. Therefore, when developing policies on AT, younger children and those with multiple disabilities need to be specifically targeted

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as:Jamali-Phiri, M.; Ebuenyi, I.D.; Smith, E.M.; Kafumba, J.A.; MacLachlan, M.; Munthali, A. Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing the Use of Assistive Technology among Children with Disabilities in Malawi. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3062. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063062
Keywords:	Assistive Technology; disability; children; socio-demographic factors;
Academic Unit:	Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	16779
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063062
Depositing User:	Malcolm MacLachlan
Date Deposited:	15 Dec 2022 11:33
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher:	mdpi
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

Repository Staff Only(login required)

Item control page

Downloads

Origin of downloads