A qualitative photo-elicitation study exploring the impact of falls and fall risk on individuals with subacute spinal cord injury.

Background: Individuals living with chronic spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) are at an increased risk of falling. However, little is known about the impact of falls and fall risk in the subacute phase of SCI/D, despite this being a time when fall prevention initiatives are delivered. Hence, we explored the impact of falls and fall risk in individuals with subacute SCI/D as they transitioned from inpatient rehabilitation to community living.

A value-based practice model of rehabilitation: consumers' recommendations in action.

The purpose of this paper is to present a model of rehabilitation practice that is based on the recommendations of consumers who used rehabilitation services and have a life-changing physical impairment (spinal cord injury - SCI). This value-based practice model is based on two qualitative studies. The first study developed the framework (social adaptation) for a new practice model based on values.

Disabling sexualities: Exploring the impact of the intersection of HIV, disability and gender on the sexualities of women in Zambia.

Background: Women with a disability are often characterised as a homogenous social group consigned to a cultural stereotype with assumptions of dependence, asexuality and gender neutrality. Furthermore, there is a void of research about the experience of people with disabilities following diagnosis with HIV. Little is known about how HIV diagnosis intersects with disability and gender and how it shapes the experiences of intimacy and gender roles of those negotiating this intersection.

Becoming men: Gender, disability, and transitioning to adulthood.

Children and youth with progressive conditions are living longer, and there is increased interest in designing programs that will assist them with "transitioning" to adulthood. Almost none of the transitions research to date, however, has attended to the experiences of disabled boys in "becoming men," nor has there been critical conceptual work problematizing notions of "normal" adulthood or theorizing the complex, diverse, and gendered experiences of transitioning. In this Canadian study, we investigated the intersectionality of gender, disability, and emerging adulthood with 15 young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Exploring body image and self-concept of men with acquired spinal cord injuries.

Qualitative research has rarely explored gender-based concerns of men with disabilities. Accordingly, this research investigates body image and self-concept for men with an acquired spinal cord injury (SCI). Modified grounded theory analysis was conducted for secondary, qualitative interview data of 64 male participants from a study of community dwellers living with SCI.

Women living with disabilities and their experiences and issues related to the context and complexities of leaving abusive situations.

The health of women with disabilities, like other women, is affected by experiences of violence and abuse. However, the experiences of women living with disabilities is less well known and an important issue for rehabilitation professionals. In this paper we focus on presenting women's knowledge and experiences of violence and abuse regarding where abuse takes place, the forms of abuse; and the complexities associated with 'taking action'.

A case study of the changing nature of a non-government organisation: a focus on disability and development.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the changing nature, process and structure of an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) in response to internal and external factors.

Method: This article is based on the interview data collected for the study which focussed on the experiences and perception of key informants on trends related to official development assistance, local governments' perspective of the NGO as a development partner and the NGO's perception of corporate and foundation support. Qualitative descriptive data analysis was used.

Personal relationships after a spinal cord injury.

The objective of this study was to examine the perspectives of individuals living with spinal cord injury (N=14) concerning the changes that occur in personal relationships after the injury. A qualitative study was completed and a finer-grained analysis of data collected from a primary study took place. The primary study had a cross-sectional and retrospective design in which participants with an acquired spinal cord injury were interviewed.

Cancer screening behaviors among Canadian women living with physical disabilities.

Objective: To report the prevalence and factors associated with ever having had a Papanicolaou (Pap) test or pelvic examination among Canadian women with physical disabilities and the barriers to having the tests.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: General community.

Adolescent girls' perceived barriers to participation in physical activity.

Research shows a decline in physical activity levels during adolescence, particularly among girls. This study explored perceived barriers to participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity among adolescent girls who live in a large ethnoracially and socioeconomically diverse city. A total of 73 adolescent girls in Toronto participated in 1 of 7 focus group sessions which were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, and qualitative software was used to facilitate data analysis.

Male adolescents' reasons for participating in physical activity, barriers to participation, and suggestions for increasing participation.

This study explored male adolescents' reasons for participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity, perceived barriers to moderate and vigorous physical activity, and suggestions as to what can be done to increase participation in physical activity. A total of 26 male 15- and 16-year-old adolescents participated in focus group sessions, which were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim; qualitative software facilitated data analysis. A constant comparison approach was used to inductively develop themes.

Barriers to wellness activities for Canadian women with physical disabilities.

Although there is a great deal of interest in women's health, research on the health and well being of women with disabilities has not increased. In this article we present internal and structural barriers to wellness activities experienced by women with disabilities. We also discuss women's actual and recommended strategies to address these barriers.