Developing world rehabilitation strategy II: flex the muscles, train the brain, and adapt to the impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To understand some reasons behind the lack of medical rehabilitation resources in developing regions and to propose some actions that can change this problem.


METHODS
Focused Medline literature review on AIDS disability in Africa. Editorial observation.


RESULTS
Disability, rather than death or cost of treatment, is likely the greatest burden from AIDS. However only 0.05% of published research on AIDS in Africa relates to disability, so we cannot know this with certainty. This is a direct result of funding priorities, and a consequence of both traditional epidemiological methods and old-line 'cure or die' medical education. The disproportionate lack of medical rehabilitation specialists and facilities is a consequence of the same forces. Similar patterns are seen in rural and developing regions around the world.


CONCLUSIONS
Rehabilitation professionals must change healthcare service by using rehabilitation techniques: flexing muscle by insisting that governments, agencies, and philanthropists look at the cost of disability, not just disease; training the brains of young professionals who will practice, research and advocate locally; adapting intervention strategies to the impairments imposed by poverty and distance.
Haig
Andrew J
AJ
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108, USA. Andyhaig@umich.edu
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000349:Africa; D004501:Education, Medical; D014943:Global Health; D006292:Health Priorities; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000458:organization & administration*