Contextual factors experienced by mothers of children with special needs.

Background: Caring for children with special needs places a burden on caregivers. The challenges experienced can be conceptualised as personal and environmental, as per the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Framework (ICF).

Objectives: Supported the caregiver experiences when caring for children with special needs and to conceptualise these needs in relation to the personal and environmental factors set out in the ICF.

Family functioning and stroke: Family members' perspectives.

Background: Stroke survivors often experience permanent or temporal physical and psychological stroke impairments. As a result, stroke survivors are often discharged to recover in their home environments and are cared for mostly by family members. Additionally, caregiving roles are often assumed without any formal training or preparation whatsoever.

Scoping review of acute stroke care management and rehabilitation in low and middle-income countries.

Background: Stroke is a major public health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. Care of the condition however, remain inconsistent in developing countries. The purpose of this scoping review was to document evidence of stroke care and service delivery in low and middle-income countries to better inform development of a context-fit stroke model of care.

Stroke patients' outcomes and satisfaction with care at discharge from four referral hospitals in Malawi: A cross-sectional descriptive study in limited resource.

Background: Stroke is the fourth leading cause of mortality and disability in Malawi. There is paucity of studies reporting on acute stroke functional outcomes, quality of life and satisfaction with care among patients with stroke. This study aimed to determine stroke outcomes and satisfaction with care in the country's central hospitals.

The relationship between social support and participation in stroke: A systematic review.

Background: The incidence of cerebrovascular accidents with its devastating effects on individuals is increasing. Post-stroke, restrictions in participation are common and social support could have an influence on this. Social support provided to individuals post-stroke is vital, but the relationship between social support and participation is not well understood.

Health-related quality of life of patients six months poststroke living in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Background: The majority of individuals report a decline in health-related quality of life following a stroke. Quality of life and factors predicting quality of life could differ in individuals from lower income countries. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the quality of life and factors influencing quality of life of community-dwelling stroke patients living in low-income, peri-urban areas in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Barriers to and facilitators of rehabilitation services for people with physical disabilities: A systematic review.

Background: As health care practitioners, it is important to have an understanding of the common barriers to and facilitators of the rehabilitation services we provide.

Objectives: This article aimed to review the relevant literature regarding barriers to and facilitators of rehabilitation services for people with disabilities.

Method: Articles for the period 1990-2010 using descriptors related to rehabilitation services, barriers, facilitators and the physically disabled population were retrieved for this review.