Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa

Despite efforts to reduce the adverse living conditions of people living with disabilities in South Africa, they continue to experience a myriad of challenges on a daily basis. The study aimed at exploring the challenges and coping strategies of Visually Impaired (VI) adults in Zeerust, South Africa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tshuma, Cherpet, Ntombela, Ngenisiwe, Mabvurira, Vincent
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2021
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17734/1/49483-160726-1-SM.pdf
_version_ 1796932706935767040
author Tshuma, Cherpet
Ntombela, Ngenisiwe
Mabvurira, Vincent
author_facet Tshuma, Cherpet
Ntombela, Ngenisiwe
Mabvurira, Vincent
author_sort Tshuma, Cherpet
collection UKM
description Despite efforts to reduce the adverse living conditions of people living with disabilities in South Africa, they continue to experience a myriad of challenges on a daily basis. The study aimed at exploring the challenges and coping strategies of Visually Impaired (VI) adults in Zeerust, South Africa. A qualitative research approach was adopted, and a descriptive (QD) design was used to collect data from fourteen participants with visual impairments. Purposive sampling and used to select participants and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Thematic content analysis and the Atlas Ti-version 8.4.23 software were used to analyse data. The results show that people with VI face different challenges such as unemployment, lack of privacy, illiteracy, stigmatization, accidental falls and isolation. To cope with such challenges, people with VI rely on support from family members, friends, social workers, nurses, and mobility instructors. Religion, self-acceptance, and addictive behaviours were also used as coping strategies. The study concludes that people with visual impairments in South Africa continue to face a number of challenges and efforts should be put in place to curb these challenges. Findings of this study may help relevant government departments and non-profit organisations working with people with disabilities to formulate appropriate policies and programmes. Community education remains crucial in creating conducive space for people with disabilities. Efforts should be put to continue providing life and vocational skills.
first_indexed 2024-03-06T04:36:33Z
format Article
id ukm.eprints-17734
institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-06T04:36:33Z
publishDate 2021
publisher Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
record_format dspace
spelling ukm.eprints-177342021-12-21T00:35:53Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17734/ Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa Tshuma, Cherpet Ntombela, Ngenisiwe Mabvurira, Vincent Despite efforts to reduce the adverse living conditions of people living with disabilities in South Africa, they continue to experience a myriad of challenges on a daily basis. The study aimed at exploring the challenges and coping strategies of Visually Impaired (VI) adults in Zeerust, South Africa. A qualitative research approach was adopted, and a descriptive (QD) design was used to collect data from fourteen participants with visual impairments. Purposive sampling and used to select participants and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Thematic content analysis and the Atlas Ti-version 8.4.23 software were used to analyse data. The results show that people with VI face different challenges such as unemployment, lack of privacy, illiteracy, stigmatization, accidental falls and isolation. To cope with such challenges, people with VI rely on support from family members, friends, social workers, nurses, and mobility instructors. Religion, self-acceptance, and addictive behaviours were also used as coping strategies. The study concludes that people with visual impairments in South Africa continue to face a number of challenges and efforts should be put in place to curb these challenges. Findings of this study may help relevant government departments and non-profit organisations working with people with disabilities to formulate appropriate policies and programmes. Community education remains crucial in creating conducive space for people with disabilities. Efforts should be put to continue providing life and vocational skills. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2021 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17734/1/49483-160726-1-SM.pdf Tshuma, Cherpet and Ntombela, Ngenisiwe and Mabvurira, Vincent (2021) Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa. e-BANGI: Jurnal Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, 18 (5). pp. 53-65. ISSN 1823-884x https://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/issue/view/1411
spellingShingle Tshuma, Cherpet
Ntombela, Ngenisiwe
Mabvurira, Vincent
Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa
title Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa
title_full Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa
title_fullStr Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa
title_short Challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in Zeerust, South Africa
title_sort challenges and coping strategies of visually impaired adults in zeerust south africa
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17734/1/49483-160726-1-SM.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT tshumacherpet challengesandcopingstrategiesofvisuallyimpairedadultsinzeerustsouthafrica
AT ntombelangenisiwe challengesandcopingstrategiesofvisuallyimpairedadultsinzeerustsouthafrica
AT mabvuriravincent challengesandcopingstrategiesofvisuallyimpairedadultsinzeerustsouthafrica