Piña Palmera is a place for learning : A qualitative study of experiences from the Piña Palmera Community Based Rehabilitation program for people with disabilities in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract:

AbstractIntroduction Persons with disabilities are among the most vulnerable groups in every society and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) with the intention of decreasing this vulnerability. In Oaxaca, Mexico, the Piña Palmera CBR program is working with persons with disabilities from rural communities to improve their quality of life.Objective The objectives of this qualitative study were to explore what motivates people to engage in the Piña Palmera CBR program, the expected and perceived benefits of participation, and future hopes and ideas for the program among program participants and their family members.Method Data was collected in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico during November-December 2014, in the form of 8 semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data collected in the interviews was done by using thematic analysis.Findings The analysis of the data resulted in four themes regarding motivations for and perceived benefits of participation: Piña Palmera is a place for learning, You feel part of a group in Piña Palmera, Piña Palmera is improving the situation for persons with disabilities, and No other place works like Piña Palmera.Conclusion That Piña Palmera is a place where you get opportunities to learn, that one feels a part of a group, and that the program is different from other options in the way they work can make them an important resource for persons with disabilities in Oaxaca, decreasing problems with unemployment, discrimination, and lacking governmental support for persons with disabilities.