TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of disability, environmental risk factors and available services among local leaders and parents of young children with disabilities in West Timor, Indonesia
AU - Kiling, Indra
AU - Due, Clemence
AU - Li, Dominggus
AU - Turnbull, Deborah
PY - 2019/9/25
Y1 - 2019/9/25
N2 - Purpose: As an underdeveloped region of Indonesia, West Timor faces a significant challenge of childhood disability compounded by environmental risk factors such as poverty, discrimination and stigma, and limited access to basic services. However, very little is currently known about how this important social issue is viewed from the perspective of parents and local leaders, who play an influential role in local society. This research aimed to explore the views of these groups, towards childhood disability, within an environmental risk context. Method: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and photovoice with 23 parents and 15 local leaders such as a midwife, priest, headmaster and staff from international and local non-government organisations. Results: The results of the study suggest that local culture, including religion has a strong influence on the perceptions of disability and environmental risk factors, while available services are seen by parents as being inaccessible. Conclusions: Implications of the results are presented together with multi-sectoral recommendations for best supporting parents raising children with disabilities in rural areas in low-income jurisdictions such as West Timor.Implications for RehabilitationGrass-root healthcare providers, such as community health centres in Indonesia should work with community leaders to improve health literacy and awareness on disabilityInitiatives like inclusive village might eliminate barriers to services such as stigma and distance to health centresDecision-makers should aim to empower religious and cultural figures to provide social support for parents of children with disabilities
AB - Purpose: As an underdeveloped region of Indonesia, West Timor faces a significant challenge of childhood disability compounded by environmental risk factors such as poverty, discrimination and stigma, and limited access to basic services. However, very little is currently known about how this important social issue is viewed from the perspective of parents and local leaders, who play an influential role in local society. This research aimed to explore the views of these groups, towards childhood disability, within an environmental risk context. Method: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and photovoice with 23 parents and 15 local leaders such as a midwife, priest, headmaster and staff from international and local non-government organisations. Results: The results of the study suggest that local culture, including religion has a strong influence on the perceptions of disability and environmental risk factors, while available services are seen by parents as being inaccessible. Conclusions: Implications of the results are presented together with multi-sectoral recommendations for best supporting parents raising children with disabilities in rural areas in low-income jurisdictions such as West Timor.Implications for RehabilitationGrass-root healthcare providers, such as community health centres in Indonesia should work with community leaders to improve health literacy and awareness on disabilityInitiatives like inclusive village might eliminate barriers to services such as stigma and distance to health centresDecision-makers should aim to empower religious and cultural figures to provide social support for parents of children with disabilities
KW - available services
KW - Disability
KW - environmental risk
KW - photovoice
KW - young children
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046417000&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09638288.2018.1466924
DO - 10.1080/09638288.2018.1466924
M3 - Article
VL - 41
SP - 2421
EP - 2432
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
SN - 0963-8288
IS - 20
ER -