Mobility assistive product abandonment and associated factors in Amhara regional state, Ethiopia: a multi centre...

While assistive products can significantly enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities, many users discontinue their use. Although several reasons for this discontinuation have been documented in developed countries, the extent and underlying causes in low-resource countries remain poorly understood, where the consequences may be more severe. This study assessed the prevalence and factors contributing to the abandonment of mobility assistive products in Ethiopia.

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Bahir Dar and Dessie Physical Rehabilitation Centres in the Amhara region between December 20, 2023, and March 20, 2024. Systematic random sampling was used, and data was analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression to identify predictor factors.

Of 424 invited participants, 371 responded (87.5% response rate). Four types of mobility assistive products (crutches, lower limb prostheses, lower limb orthoses and manual wheelchair) were included, and the abandonment rate was 36.4% (95% CI: 31.5-41.5). Significant predictors included being male (AOR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.39-5.87), wheelchair use (AOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.16-4.96), lack of client participation in device selection (AOR: 9.35, 95% CI: 4.47-19.53), and device unfitness for the environment (AOR: 8.44, 95% CI: 4.54-14.67).

The high abandonment rate in Amhara region, Ethiopia emphasises the importance of tailoring mobility assistive products to individual users rather than providing generic options.