title: A description of assistive technology sources, services and outcomes of use in a number of African settings.
abstract: Purpose statement: The article explores assistive technology sources, services and outcomes in South Africa, Namibia, Malawi and Sudan.
  
  
  
  A survey was done in purposively selected sites of the study countries. Cluster sampling followed by random sampling served to identify 400-500 households (HHs) with members with disabilities per country. A HH questionnaire and individual questionnaire was completed. Country level analysis was limited to descriptive statistics.
  
  
  
  Walking mobility aids was most commonly bought/provided (46.3%), followed by visual aids (42.6%). The most common sources for assistive technology were government health services (37.8%), "other" (29.8%), and private health services (22.9%). Out of the participants, 59.3% received full information in how to use the device. Maintenance was mostly done by users and their families (37.3%). Devices helped a lot in 73.3% of cases and improved quality of life for 67.9% of participants, while 39.1% experienced functional difficulties despite the devices.
  
  
  
  Although there is variation between the study settings, the main impression is that of fragmented or absent systems of provision of assistive technology. Implications for rehabilitation Provision of assistive technology and services varied between countries, but the overall impression was of poor provision and fragmented services. The limited provision of assistive technology for personal care and handling products is of concern as many of these devices requires little training and ongoing support while they can make big functional differences. Rural respondents experienced more difficulties when using the device and received less information on use and maintenance of the device than their urban counterparts. A lack of government responsibility for assistive device services correlated with a lack of information and/or training of participants and maintenance of devices.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Rehabilitation studies, Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Surona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visagie
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Rehabilitation studies, Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch, South Africa.|b SINTEF Technology and Society , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Arne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Eide
authors.affiliation: c Centre for Global Health, Trinity University College , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Hasheem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mannan
authors.affiliation: d Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: e Department of Psycology, Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch , South Africa.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Rehabilitation studies, Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gubela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mji
authors.affiliation: f Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi , Zomba , Malawi.
authors.forename: Alister
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munthali
authors.affiliation: g School of Medicine, Afhad University for Women , Omdurman , Sudan.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khogali
authors.affiliation: h Multidisciplinary Research Centre, University of Namibia , Windhoek , Namibia.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Rooy
authors.affiliation: b SINTEF Technology and Society , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Karl-Gerhard
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Hem
authors.affiliation: c Centre for Global Health, Trinity University College , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacLachlan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008283:Maintenance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055096:Optical Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution*
keywords: Africa; Assistive technology; outcomes; services; sources