Original Research

Understanding the current discourse of rehabilitation: With reference to disability models and rehabilitation policies for evaluation research in the South African Setting

G. Mji, P. Chappell, S. Statham, N. Mlenzana, C. Goliath, C. DeWet, A. Rhoda
South African Journal of Physiotherapy | Vol 69, No 2 | a22 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v69i2.22 | © 2013 G. Mji, P. Chappell, S. Statham, N. Mlenzana, C. Goliath, C. DeWet, A. Rhoda | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 December 2013 | Published: 11 December 2013

About the author(s)

G. Mji, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University.
P. Chappell, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University.
S. Statham, Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University.
N. Mlenzana, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape.
C. Goliath, Division of Community Health, Stellenbosch University.
C. DeWet, Department of Health, Western Cape.
A. Rhoda, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape.

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Abstract

Evaluation of rehabilitation programmes is essentialin order to monitor its effectiveness and relevance. There is howevera need to consider policies when conducting evaluation researchin rehabilitation. The aim of this paper is to present the theoreticaland legislative underpinnings of rehabilitation in South Africa.A narrative review of national and international disability legislationand empirical research in context of rehabilitation was conducted.The findings of this review reveals that as a fluid construct, thediscourse of rehabilitation has been underpinned by the changingtheoretical and socio-political understandings of disability. This inturn has influenced various international and national health anddisability policies and legislations that oversee the implementation ofrehabilitation practice. Despite this, there has been little evaluationof public health rehabilitation services in context of these policies and legislations in South Africa. The fluidity of rehabilitationneed to be considered when conducting evaluation research in rehabilitation.

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