Current State of Mobility Technology Provision in Less-Resourced Countries

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Although appropriate technology is scarce throughout much of the world, varying political stability, national resources, and societal attitudes affect the lives of PWD. Although rehabilitation specialists often talk in terms of “technology for less-resourced environments,” the situation in each country is different and may need to be evaluated on its own terms. This section gives examples of several countries in various stages of progress for PWD.

Provision Models

Several approaches have been taken to providing wheelchairs in less-resourced countries. These include the “charitable model,” “workshop model,” “manufacturing model,” “globalization model,” and a fifth model that integrates aspects of the other 4 according to the needs of local people.15

In the charitable model, organizations donate wheelchairs in mass numbers to people in lower-income countries. Some charities provide used wheelchairs with or without custom fitting and local repair efforts.

Summary

Numerous AT provision efforts have occurred and continue to occur throughout the world. In low- and middle-income countries, provision strategies include charitable donation of wheelchairs, local manufacture on a small or large scale, and global manufacture using international resources. Regardless of the method used, the technology provided must be appropriate for a local population to increase user function. User research can improve the chance that a developed technology will succeed in this

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      A qualitative assessment in Tanzania identified 5 themes that resonate throughout many resource-limited countries: tricycles and 3-wheel models tend to be more popular than 4-wheel models; most citizens with impairment rely on charitable donations to purchase and, at times, operate a mobility aid; repurposing prefabricated components and outsourcing tasks can reduce production costs; bicycle components are available in rural areas; and donated, depot-style wheelchairs are often irresponsibly distributed and poorly designed for their operating environment.39 In diverse urban and rural low-income setting, wheelchair users of both genders consistently report improved quality of life and satisfaction with environmentally appropriate and locally manufactured wheelchairs.44–47 However, improved quality of life, physical and psychological health, and function have also been demonstrated among 519 adults in India, Chile, and Viet Nam who used a standard, low-cost, semirigid depot style wheelchair.44

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    This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under a supplement to REU Grant No. EEC 0552351. This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

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