A picture of amputees and the prosthetic situation in Haiti.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to present the situation of Haitian amputees and to outline some of the major barriers in Haiti that prevent people from receiving prosthetic treatment.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted with amputees throughout Haiti using a 42-question questionnaire. Additionally, interviews were conducted with traditional healers, health care workers, and leaders of handicap associations. Each interview was manuscripted and the data were subsequently coded and analysed in the USA.


RESULTS
There are three full-time prosthetic shops and two part-time prosthetic shops in Haiti, all of which are severely limited in the scope of services they are able to provide amputees due to insufficient supplies and inadequately trained personnel. Only 25% of the 164 amputees interviewed had ever had a prosthetic limb. Typically prosthetic treatment is inaccessible and unaffordable for amputees, which prevents many from seeking treatment. The most common cause of amputation in Haiti is infection, followed by motor vehicle accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
There must be additional cooperation between Haitian patients, doctors, traditional healers, prosthetists, and government officials in order to provide more adequate prosthetic care. Prosthetic treatment in Haiti can be successful with cooperation of different entities, proper rehabilitation therapy, adequately trained personnel, and development of culturally appropriate limbs.
Bigelow
J
J
Healing Hands for Haiti Foundation, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. jeffrey_bigelow@nymc.edu
Korth
M
M
Jacobs
J
J
Anger
N
N
Riddle
M
M
Gifford
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000600:supply & distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000592:standards; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel