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My Views of Working in the Community Have Changed Over Time

Working at the community level does change a person’s opinion about things. I believe that it is what makes a good healthcare professional because you experience a lot and we get to be part of the community and observe where our patients come from, the places they reside in and the kind of life they are living, the geographical areas which are beneficial for our intervention plan as we get to make realistic recommendations. In this blog I’ll be reflecting on how working at the community has shaped my thoughts from the first week to the fourth week, these include challenges, positives, and growth that occurred during the block in each week.

In the first week, I was very concerned about my safety, and I noticed that people in the community usually lack healthcare services because health workers are concerned about their safety. I experienced secondary trauma because of the stories and stigmas that are related to township areas that I heard before coming to the community and also during the first week when we arrived at the community some of the community members were warning us about unsafety in the community everywhere we went and to always keep our valuable items safe. On Friday, the school in the neighborhood was robbed which raised my biggest concern and created a lot of anxiety and stress, and I was also thinking about what going to happen to me and whether this is a risk that willing to take for my education. People were very welcoming and very helpful which did bridge the gap of anxiety and fear of working in the community.

In week 2 I was so scared, I had secondary trauma which was created by how members of the community were warning us everywhere we went since the first week. This became worse the time I was constantly thinking about it and how my other colleagues were afraid too. However, with constant support from the supervisor, we were referred to counseling which was very effective as I was able to come myself down and had a very effective coping strategy and different stress management techniques.

In weeks 3 and 4 it was better as we are now used to how things work in the community; I know how things work and who I can communicate with when I need assistance with certain things. In the community you need to have good time management skills, at first, that was a challenge however, with the timetable that was created I was able to structure my day better which made it easier.

You must be able to work independently and with others. For instance, at the clinic, there is a lot of guidance and they do encourage the MDT approach. You get the opportunity to treat with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists and speech therapists who are people with different views and have different approaches when it comes to intervention, however, as a team, you must have a common goal and create a treatment plan that is going to benefit the client because, at the end of the day, the patient is the main priority. This week was a challenge for me at first because I didn’t have the experience of working with MDT on a single session before, so I was given or exposed to that opportunity. The growth from that experience is that respect, humbling yourself and humanity comes a long way and it’s the important aspect to consider when preparing yourself for the block. When I mention respect; I mean how you engage with other people and your behavior towards others such as colleagues, patients, MDT, and other health professionals at the clinic and as well as community members. As our academic leader always says “We must be always charming” which really did work for me. Not that it was my strategy, but I also looked at my strengths which were being able to connect with people, I was able to build healthy relationships with school principals, and teachers which created a healthy environment for us to work in.

my experience where I did my electives in a rural area, patients didn’t know what Occupational Therapy is and were non-compliant with follow dates, but I had a different experience whereby they were very compliant with treatment.

We also did health promotion every morning which usually is not done in the hospitals which was very beneficial to both the client and other healthcare professionals as we received more referrals from the doctor than most of the facilities, I went to there usually had fewer referrals to OT due to health care workers lacking knowledge. One of the challenges was that I didn’t know what health promotion is and what to include when you doing it however, I used the knowledge that I had about OT to promote it which also boosted my confidence and being able to stand alone in front of many people.We also had Mental health awareness which a nice experience for me which is where I got to learn about the role of different departments in dealing with mental health issues and how we as OT can also play a role in that.

With time, you'll likely start to learn more about the community's dynamics, needs, and the most effective ways to address them. This learning process might involve listening to community members, collaborating with other stakeholders, and finding innovative solutions that align with the community's values.

One of the challenges that I faced is having a feeling of not being competent to be in 4th year and feeling overwhelmed because I was having challenges linking fieldwork with practice and not being able to treat the patient holistically in the community setting and using the CBR matrix. To find out more out the CBR matrix you can follow this link:

However, in that aspect, with my supervisor constantly giving me feedback I was able to try and link it to the community aspect and provide a comprehensive treatment.

Another thing is having limited resources such as splint material, which made me realize the importance of educating the client about splint care such as cleaning the splint to ensure that the patient takes care of it.

During the first week, we couldn’t find the CCGs or community leaders however we were able to speak to other community members who were very friendly and helpful, who gave us information that we required such as community needs and available NGOs that are available within a community.

Meeting the community leaders, teachers and principals lowered my expectation regarding the community as they were very compliant and were willing to work with us for the benefit of the community.

What was the main challenge was that we didn’t have a room to treat in the community and we were always outside, so it was very difficult to ask the patient to come to the therapy session because the library was sometimes noisy and not conducive to engaging in therapy sessions.

However, with the relationship we had with the CCGs, this has been resolved as the CCGs were able to provide us with the container that they use for us to use on Mondays.

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only hope” Bob Marley

For me, closure involved expressing my gratitude and appreciation to the people who supported me throughout the placement, such as my clinical educator, the multidisciplinary team and the patients. I also received feedback on my performance and areas of improvement, which was valuable for my professional development. I felt proud of myself for completing the placement successfully and overcoming the challenges that I faced along the way.

Handover is another essential component of clinical practice, as it ensures the continuity of care for our clients and the smooth transition of responsibilities to the next occupational therapist. Handover involves communicating relevant information about the client's needs, goals, interventions and outcomes, as well as any pending issues or recommendations for future action. For me, handover involved preparing written reports and verbal summaries for each of my clients, and discussing them with the incoming occupational therapist. I also provided some recommendations and suggestions based on my experience and knowledge of the clients and the setting. I felt confident that I had done my best to facilitate the handover process and to ensure the quality of care for my clients.

 I have gained valuable knowledge and skills in occupational therapy practice, such as assessment, intervention, documentation, communication, teamwork, ethics, and professionalism. I have also developed my personal qualities, such as self-awareness, critical thinking, creativity, resilience, and empathy. I have identified my strengths and areas for improvement and set goals for my future learning and development.

I feel a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for completing my placement and being able to contribute to the well-being of the clients and the team. I also feel sad to leave the people I have worked with and the relationships I have built.

What keeps me going?

With constant feedback and guidance from my supervisor, I was able to get improve my intervention and plan before the day by looking at the clients that are booked at the clinic to be able to plan better. Another thing that kept me going is to lower my expectations and just take each day as it comes. Keep praying every day for patients and your own safety because you may never know what going to happen. I was able to keep myself together and I have gotten to the point where I realized that community is not bad it is just a perception and secondary trauma. We just need to better prepare ourselves for it and bear in mind that it won’t be the same as working in the hospital.

“One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity “Albert Schweitzer

Everyone's journey in community work is unique, I aim to embrace the growth and transformation that come with my evolving views and use them to continue making a positive impact on the community I care about. But to remember to respect others, manage my time and always ask for help whenever I need something because I won’t know everything and always humble myself. I look forward to applying what I have learned in my community service placement and continuing to grow as an occupational therapist. I hope to make a positive difference in the lives of the people I serve and to contribute to the profession and society. These are some of the things I’ll will use in the future:

- Apply and consolidate the skills and knowledge that I have gained from my previous placements.

- Expand my scope of practice and experience different areas of occupational therapy.

- Serve the needs of underserved populations and contribute to social justice and health equity.

- Learn from the local culture and context and adapt my practice accordingly.

- Develop my leadership and advocacy skills and become an agent of change in the community.

- Grow personally and professionally as an occupational therapist.

This experience has been instrumental for my development as an occupational therapist, and I am grateful for all the learning opportunities that it has offered me. I am also excited for the next chapter of my journey, which is the community service year in a rural area. I hope that this blog post has inspired you to reflect on your own clinical practice experiences and to share them with others. Thank you for reading!

References

1.Brems, C., Johnson, M. E., Warner, T. D., & Roberts, L. W. (2006). Barriers to healthcare as reported by rural and urban interprofessional providers. Journal of interprofessional care, 20(2), 105-118.

2.Cattan, M., & Tilford, S. (2006). Mental health promotion. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

3.Cottrell, R. R., Girvan, J. T., McKenzie, J. F., & Seabert, D. (2006). Health promotion and education. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

4.Cristancho, S., Garces, D. M., Peters, K. E., & Mueller, B. C. (2008). Listening to rural Hispanic immigrants in the Midwest: a community-based participatory assessment of major barriers to health care access and use. Qualitative health research, 18(5), 633-646.

5.Lukersmith, S., Hartley, S., Kuipers, P., Madden, R., Llewellyn, G., & Dune, T. (2013). Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) monitoring and evaluation methods and tools: a literature review. Disability and rehabilitation, 35(23), 1941-1953.

6.Khasnabis, C., Motsch, K. H., Achu, K., Al Jubah, K., Brodtkorb, S., Chervin, P., ... & Lander, T. (2010). Health promotion. In Community-based rehabilitation: CBR guidelines. World Health Organization.

7.Taberna, M., Gil Moncayo, F., Jané-Salas, E., Antonio, M., Arribas, L., Vilajosana, E., ... & Mesía, R. (2020). The multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach and quality of care. Frontiers in oncology, 10, 85.

8.Tan, H. Q. M., Chin, Y. H., Ng, C. H., Liow, Y., Devi, M. K., Khoo, C. M., & Goh, L. H. (2020). Multidisciplinary team approach to diabetes. An outlook on providers’ and patients’ perspectives. Primary Care Diabetes, 14(5), 545-551.

9.Taylor, C., Atkins, L., Richardson, A., Tarrant, R., & Ramirez, A. J. (2012). Measuring the quality of MDT working: an observational approach. BMC cancer, 12(1), 1-10.

10.Viner, R., & Macfarlane, A. (2005). Health promotion. Bmj, 330(7490), 527-529.

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The Role of Occupational Therapy in Meeting Sustainable Developmental Goals within the Community

As an aspiring occupational therapist, I have the privilege of working with people from different backgrounds, abilities, and needs. I help them to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life through meaningful activities. In doing so, I also contribute to the sustainable development of the community I work in. Sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (United Nations, 1987). It is based on three pillars: social, economic, and environmental.

There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a global agenda for 2030, please click on the following link to see all of them https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_Development_Goals#/media/File:Sustainable_Development_Goals.svg.

They aim to end poverty, protect the environment, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. As an occupational therapist, I can align my practice with these goals and make a positive impact on the world.

Here's a YouTube video that explains each developmental goal in detail in just 10 minutes or less.

Here are five SDGs that I intend to work towards within my community:

The first of which would be SDG 1: No Poverty. Poverty is not only a lack of income but also a lack of access to basic services, opportunities, and resources. Poverty can affect anyone, but it disproportionately affects people with disabilities, older adults, women, and children. Poverty can also limit one's occupational choices and participation. As an occupational therapist, I can help people living in poverty to overcome physical, cognitive, and environmental barriers and access opportunities that can improve their well-being and livelihood. For example, I can provide assistive devices when necessary such as a wheelchair to easily allow for mobility around the community, and provide vocational training for my client to be able to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining, or returning to employment or other meaningful occupations, financial literacy education/financial management skills by teaching the client financial management skills so that the client can be able to save or manage the money that he/she has effectively and advocacy for social protection and inclusion by advocating the client to go back to work if he/she is being limited that opportunity to go back to work due to his disability or illness by communicating with the employers or manager of that particular job. collaborate with community organizations, schools, and local government agencies to develop programs that address the needs of marginalized and underserved populations. These programs might focus on skill development, vocational training, mental health support, and more.

The second goal that I can play a role in is goal 2 which is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. According to (de Klerk et al, 2004) by 2004, 14 million South Africans suffered from food insecurity, 43% of households suffered from food poverty, and 1.5 million children had malnutrition. By the year 2015, (Walsh et al., 2015) highlighted that 26% of households in South Africa were food insecure, whilst 28.3% were at risk of being food insecure. In a more recent report, it was indicated that 8.18 million people in South Africa were in crisis and 1.16 million were in a state of emergency in terms of food insecurity in December 2020, with projections to increase to 9.60 million and 2.20 million by March 2021, respectively (Maxwell D et al.,2023). The main drivers of this increase in food insecurity included economic decline and unemployment, food prices, drought, and the COVID-19 pandemic (IPC, 2021). Covid 19 had a huge impact on food insecurity in South Africa (Arndt et al.,2020)

The government is also making an impact in schools to help reduce hunger as he created a program called the National school nutrition program which offers 1 nutritious meal to children at primary and secondary school to improve their learning capacity. The meal is beneficial to the family of the learners as it costs 10% of the family’s income per child which is a significant save for the learners' family(Bundy et al,2018).In this Goal, as an Occupational therapist, I can create a garden to help reduce hunger this can be achieved by working together with the community leaders so that they can provide me with the land and the equipment that I’m going to use. Ask them for JoJo tanks so that water can be easily accessible when watering the vegetables. As most people are unemployed, I can work with them to help create a garden and appoint people that are going to be responsible for maintaining it. This vision can be presented in front of the community members so that they can also participate if they want. Whilst trying to achieve the goal I can incorporate the MDT approach such as working together with the dietician to get good nutritional advice and how important a healthy diet is in our body. While also creating groups with the caregivers and teaching them about breastfeeding to prevent the child's risk of getting malnutrition (Severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition). We can also as Ots create groups of mothers and children especially first-time mothers whereby, we educate them on different ways to formulate a bond with the child and encourage playing with the children.

Sustainable Development Goal 3 entails good health and well-being. According to the world health organization, health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is also influenced by the social determinants of health, such as income, education, environment, culture, and gender. As an occupational therapist, I can promote health and well-being for individuals and groups through prevention, providing realistic intervention, and rehabilitation while working together with the client to meet their needs. I consider the social determinants of health, such as housing, education, and access to healthcare, when working with clients.

 As an occupational therapist, I can support goal 4 which is ensuring quality education for all by addressing the diverse learning needs and styles of students, teachers, and parents. For example, I can provide inclusive education, curriculum adaptation, assistive technology, learning strategies, school readiness, and transition services. In the community, I have seen a gap in learners in the community unable to read, write, and identify shapes, colors, and numbers as a result those children repeated class multiple times which delayed their success. By working together with the teachers, I aim to create the most conducive and adaptable environment for the learners to be able to fully concentrate during the class and strategic ways to assist them to understand better for example breaking down instructions into small steps, praising them after completing each task to keep them motivated to do more.

The last sustainable development goal that I strive to assimilate into a core principle of my practice as an occupational therapist would be SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. Inequalities are disparities in income, wealth, power, opportunities, and outcomes that affect people's lives and dignity. Inequalities can be based on factors such as gender, age, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and migration status. Inequalities can also create occupational injustice, which is the denial or restriction of access to meaningful occupations due to structural or personal factors. As an occupational therapist, I can reduce inequalities by promoting equity and inclusion for marginalized and vulnerable groups within a community such as workplaces, schools, and public spaces. By considering the diverse needs of individuals with varying abilities, therapists can help create environments that are accessible and welcoming to everyone. Have advocacy efforts to influence policy changes that promote equality and accessibility. This could involve working with professional associations, community leaders, NGOs, and policymakers to create and implement policies that support the rights and needs of marginalized populations.  For example, I can provide culturally sensitive care to better understand and respect the diverse cultural backgrounds of their clients. This ensures that interventions are tailored to individual values, beliefs, and preferences, thereby reducing disparities in care, human rights education, empowerment programs, community development projects, and policy advocacy. Can also conduct workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns to educate communities about the rights and needs of individuals with disabilities. This can help reduce stigma, increase understanding, and foster a more inclusive society.

By working to promote healthy lives with adequate income and reduced hunger, quality education, and reduced inequality,we as OT's in South Africa and not only SA but in general, can make a significant contribution to sustainable development within communities we work in. OT's are helping to create a more inclusive and accessible society, where everyone can participate in activities that are meaningful to them. These are some of the ways that I intend to work towards the SDG's within my community as an occupational therapist. I believe that by doing so, I can make a difference not only for myself but also for others and future generations.

References

1.Arndt, C., Davies, R., Gabriel, S., Harris, L., Makrelov, K., Robinson, S., Levy, S., Simbanegavi, W., van Seventer, D., & Anderson, L. (2020). Covid-19 lockdowns, income distribution, and Food Security: An analysis for South Africa. Global Food Security, 26, 100410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100410

2.De Klerk, M., Drimie, S., Aliber, M., Mini, S., Mokoena, R., Randela, R., ... & Kirsten, J. (2004). Food security in South Africa: key policy issues for the medium term. Human Sciences Research Council Integrated Rural and Regional Development Position Paper.

3. Haywood, L. K., Funke, N., Audouin, M., Musvoto, C., & Nahman, A. (2019). The Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa: Investigating the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships. Development Southern Africa, 36(5), 555-569.

4. Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, August 11). Sustainable development goals. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_Development_Goals#/media/File:Sustainable_Development_Goals.svg

5. Maxwell D., Adan, G., Hailey, P., Day, M., Odhiambo, S. B., Kaindi, L., ... & Marshak, A. (2023). Using the household hunger scale to improve analysis and classification of severe food insecurity in famine-risk conditions: Evidence from three countries. Food Policy, 118, 102449.

6. Mugambiwa, S. S., & Tirivangasi, H. M. (2017). Climate change: A threat towards achieving ‘Sustainable Development Goal number two’(end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture) in South Africa. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 9(1), 1-6.

7.Ngarava, S. (2022). Empirical analysis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity in South Africa. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 127, 103180.

8. YouTube. (2021, February 9). Sustainable development goals (sdgs) explained in 10 minutes or less. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xubK4T9Nc8A&t=145s

9.Walker, M., McLean, M., & Mukwando, P. (2022). Low-income students, human development and higher education in South Africa: Opportunities, obstacles and outcomes (p. 224). African minds.

10. Walsh, C. M., & Van Rooyen, F. C. (2015). Household food security and hunger in rural and urban communities in the Free State Province, South Africa. Ecology of food and nutrition, 54(2), 118-137.

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What needs to be done? Future Occupational Therapy roles towards dismantling injustice?

According to Frank Kronenberg, the Idea of Occupational Therapy is too Radical and Powerful to be Contained by a Profession. Recently, theorists in occupational therapy and occupational science called for contextually situated practice which includes the environment but goes beyond the physical environment, as well as socio-cultural conditions and practices at a micro level(Ramugondo, 2018).Occupational therapy is broad

Injustices in society can manifest in many different areas of social life, including in the workplace, the education system, and the criminal justice system.The people who are most susceptible to it are minorities and oppressed social groups, including people already suffering from poverty and ethnic minorities.

There are many injustices that exist in today’s world but I will only focus on 3:

1.Rural health access

According to the constitutional law of South Africa, section 27 everyone has a right to access quality health care services. Some of the factors that influences the lack of access to health care services in rural areas is distance. Means to reach and utilize services often becomes a problem, such as transportation to services that may be located at a distance, and the ability to take some time off at work to access health services.

At Cato crest community, I encountered a lot of challenge when wanting to book patients because I had to consider their context, in terms of transportation whether they used an uber to come to the clinic and how much they spent so that I can be able to set realistic bookings. Which shows that some patients may be keen to attend therapy session but because of finances or lack of transportation to the clinic they may be hesitant to come. Some didn’t want to miss work so what they mentioned that they took some time of at work to come to the clinic or if they couldn’t, they preferred to arrive at least late due to no work ”no pay policy at work”. Rain also limited them access to health care because they missed appointments at the clinic because they can’t access the road, which negatively affects their health management and right to access health care services. Some mentioned that they don’t like waking up early in the morning and waiting in the long cues at the clinic so whenever I ask them to come they always considered that.

Often, it is hard to get doctors to move to rural areas, exacerbating the shortage of healthcare providers. So if we as health care providers can encourage the government to create more job opportunities in rural areas so that more health care professionals can be available at the communities. Even if health professional wish to conduct home visits it becomes a challenge because you need to consider your safety and you may never know what going to happen once you enter your client home because people are not afraid to still even the equipment that we use during therapy session which makes it so difficult to bring therapy service to people. However, at Cato Manor it is better to say they are fortunate because we do come to the community and treat at the library to reduce waiting in the long cue and reduce travelling costs.

2.Poverty

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), over 1.3 billion people worldwide live in poverty, making it one of the most pressing global issues of our time. Poverty forces people to live in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, without access to basic services or opportunities for personal development. Despite South Africa being ranked 38th in the "ranking of the richest countries with net financial assets per capita of $8,385 (R140,200)",[48] Major causes of poverty, precipitated by a history of apartheid, involve disparities in the distribution of resources, coupled with poor educational opportunities. Black people have also had poor access to job opportunities and health care—known catalysts in the generation and cycle of poverty. In response to these challenges, South Africa initiated the so-called Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to participate in job creation and promoting equitable policies in employment practices. The government has also endeavoured to improve schools, provide health care for the poor, children (ages 6 and below) and pregnant women. (Robinson, 1991)

In Cato Crest community, I saw a lot of sewage which is caused by the people in the community however, there were many people of the community who are employed under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which increased lot of job opportunities as many people were employed, reduces pollution within the community and reduces poverty at home. Mayville primary and high school has access to resources such as books, however due to a crime and negligence being a factor, books get lost often and each student can’t own a book which means that children are now limited an opportunity to read after school because of shortage of books. Recently Mayville secondary school was robbed, they took the school resources such as computer and teachers cell phones which shows that “people are hungry”. At the end of the day, it is the school resources that is going to assist their brothers and sisters that are going to change their home situation but with the crime rates that is going to be highly affected.

In terms of the ways to reduce poverty is to upskill people within the community so that they can utilize their skills to generate income for themselves because at the end of the day, the government can create as many job opportunities in the world but if you don’t have the people don’t have the necessary skill that is required for the jobs it going to be useless.

3.Disability discrimination

It occurs when people with disabilities face uneven work or housing situations, or when they are denied access to public services such as transportation or government facilities. People with disability also have right (The convention on the rights of persons with disabilities: A comprehensive instrument to promote social inclusion 2012)

In Cato Crest community, people with disabilities have access to community transport such as taxis, they are able to access an uber with no discrimination. However, the most common issue is unable to travel from the house to road as they have a limited space that can’t have access to wheelchair which is very challenging for them and the caregivers because they have to carry them from the house to the road. These could also be the factor to them unable to access health care services as the caregiver may develop back pain and end up not being able to take them to the clinic.

At the end of the day we all human and humanity is the only to deal with the disability discrimination because if you not taught humanity and respecting others, you won’t see people with disability as your fellow brothers and sister. You will only view them as being different from us and some people need to be taught that being unique is the best! As future occupational therapist we have a huge role to play in advocating for our client with disability in terms of removing the stigma that people have by educating the caregivers and people in the community about the disability so that they won’t feel ashamed or embarrassed if they have a child who is disabled(Maria Galheigo, 2011)

References

Maria Galheigo, S. (2011). What needs to be done? occupational therapy responsibilities and challenges regarding human rights. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 58(2), 60–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.2011.00922.x

Healing work: Intersections for decoloniality - taylor & francis online. (n.d.-a). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14473828.2018.1523981

Ramugondo, E. (2018). Healing work: Intersections for Decoloniality. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin, 74(2), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/14473828.2018.1523981

Robinson, W. A. (1991). Federal efforts to provide for at-risk children. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2(1), 202–208. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2010.0457

The convention on the rights of persons with disabilities: A comprehensive instrument to promote social inclusion. (2012). Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities, 126–148. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139035668.011

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The role of Occupational Therapist in Maternal and Child health to the community and life context.

The significance of maternal and child health in society cannot be overstated, as it profoundly influences the overall well-being of the population. The esteemed World Health Organization (WHO) recognises it as a pivotal gauge of a population's health status 1. occupationaltherapy.com. Moreover, maternal and child health holds great relevance for Occupational Therapy practitioners, especially within the community. We as practitioners assume a vital role in enhancing population health by devising interventions at the population level and advocating for occupational participation and various determinants of health 2. research.aota.org.

The well-being of individuals, families, and communities is greatly influenced by the crucial aspect of maternal and child health. This is because when mothers and children enjoy good health, they are able to thrive, acquire knowledge, participate in the workforce, and make valuable contributions to society . Furthermore, the positive effects of maternal and child health extend far beyond the immediate benefits, as it significantly reduces the likelihood of encountering chronic ailments in the future.

At the community level, as occupational therapists we have the opportunity to collaborate with various stakeholders including health departments, schools, and other organizations. Through these partnerships, we can contribute to the education and support services offered to mothers and children. Additionally, we can play a pivotal role in designing and implementing programs that aim to foster and encourage healthy behaviours and closing gaps within the community. These programs may encompass a range of initiatives including the promotion of breastfeeding, physical activity, and the adoption of healthy eating habits. It is through leveraging our academic expertise as occupational therapists that we can effectively contribute to the overall well-being and development of individuals within the community. https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/RUTF

A comprehensive evaluation conducted by Nerida Hyett and her colleagues thoroughly scrutinised the practices of Occupational Therapists at the communal level by sourcing and assessing current research evidence, as well as outlining the roles and opportunities within this practice research.aota.org This evaluation concluded that globally, Occupational Therapists engage with communities in a variety of settings to ameliorate communal health, overall well-being, and the sense of belonging. The effectiveness of this practice can be further fortified through advocating for change, educational initiatives, and alterations to policy, in addition to rigorous research that clarifies the essence of community and delineates community involvement research.aota.org Throughout my personal professional journey thus far, I have had the privilege of collaborating with numerous mothers and their children who have encountered a diverse range of obstacles that have deeply impacted their lives. Such difficulties have encompassed the realms of poverty, homelessness, and mental health concerns. In my capacity as a compassionate practitioner, I intend to dedicate myself to empowering these individuals by equipping them with the necessary tools, techniques, and knowledge to navigate through these adversities and enhance their overall physical and emotional wellness.

Another significant area where we can excel is in providing early intervention services for children with disabilities. These services are designed to facilitate the development of essential skills that enable children to engage in everyday activities. As an occupational therapist it would be incumbent upon me to assist children in learning how to play, feed themselves, and dress themselves, ensuring they can actively participate in the world around them. We may also play a crucial role in supporting mothers during their postpartum period, aiding them in their recovery from childbirth and assisting them in regaining their physical strength and mobility. Additionally, as OTs we can offer guidance to new mothers with regards to caring for their newborns and establishing healthy sleep routines.

For more information on child and maternal health you can follow the link below:

In summary, I am of the opinion that occupational therapy possesses a distinctive and significant role in the enhancement of both maternal and child health. We as occupational therapists are instrumental in aiding mothers' recovery from childbirth, providing early intervention services for children with disabilities, and partnering with families to foster healthy lifestyles. Our expertise and support have the possibility of contributing significantly to the well-being and development of individuals and families alike.

Loesche, S. (2018) Maternal health and occupational therapy: Exploring our role with new mothers, OccupationalTherapy.com. Available at: https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/articles/maternal-health-and-occupational-therapy-4385 (Accessed: 27 July 2023).

Braveman, B. (2015) Population Health and Occupational therapy, American Occupational Therapy Association. Available at: https://research.aota.org/ajot/article/70/1/7001090010p1/6116/Population-Health-and-Occupational-Therapy (Accessed: 27 July 2023).

Hyett, N. et al. (2020) How do ots practice with communities to improve community-level health, well-being and inclusion? A systematic review, American Occupational Therapy Association. Available at: https://research.aota.org/ajot/article/74/4_Supplement_1/7411505166p1/9809/How-Do-OTs-Practice-With-Communities-to-Improve (Accessed: 27 July 2023).

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