Article

Disability is inextricably linked to poverty. A total of 80% of the
disabled population lives in low-income countries. The demand for prosthetic and
orthotic services in these countries is increasing, and a variety of methods to
provide services are currently used. Objectives: To assess current models of
provision to facilitate sustainable, evidence-based prosthetic and orthotic
services. Study Design: Literature review. Methods:
A literature search was
performed through Medline (Ovid), PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, EMBASE and RECAL
Legacy using combinations of subject heading and text word searching strategies.
Full-text publications were critically appraised and ranked according to the
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines. Results: Three areas were
deemed pertinent to the research question. Studies were grouped into one or more
of these categories based on the issues addressed: instigators, types of service
provision, demographics and region-specific issues. It was found that many
complex factors influence prosthetic and orthotic services in low-income
countries. Demographic and regional idiosyncrasies require prosthetic and
orthotic services to be tailored to address the specific needs of individual
countries. Conclusions:
The lack of and quality of available research made
efficacy of methods used to provide services in low-income countries difficult to
determine. Clinical relevance This review aims to highlight areas of best
practice in prosthetic and orthotic services in low-income countries and to show
where further research is required in order to develop evidence-based prosthetic
and orthotic services.

Langue : ANGLAIS