Perceptions of rehabilitation coordinators on community outreach services in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Community outreach rehabilitation services are a strategy to decentralise hospital-based rehabilitation services to community level. Community outreach rehabilitation services increase the reach of therapy as most rehabilitation professionals are based in regional or tertiary facilities. The coverage of rehabilitation services outside of hospital setting remains unclear. The aim of this study was to establish the settings as well as explore the barriers and facilitating factors in the delivery of community outreach rehabilitation services in KwaZulu-Natal. Guided by a qualitative research design, data were collected through face to face in-depth interviews with five rehabilitation coordinators employed in provincial and district offices of the KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Health in 2019. The interview data were transcribed and analysed thematically. Community outreach rehabilitation services are delivered in primary care clinics, homes and schools. Stakeholder support, involvement of community health workers, the positive role played by senior therapists and rehabilitation coordinators as well as composition and perceived outcomes of the multidisciplinary approach, were reported as facilitating factors in the success of community outreach rehabilitation services. Barriers identified included human resources constraints, unavailability of transport for community outreach, inadequate infrastructure and limited support from top management. Thus, community outreach rehabilitation services require policy review and planning for better implementation.

Keywords: Community outreach rehabilitation services, rehabilitation coordinators, health facilities