Stroke self-efficacy is under-investigated in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, studies focusing on the relationship between self-efficacy and post-stroke functional outcomes are scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between self-efficacy and post-stroke activity limitations, locomotor ability, physical activity, and community reintegration in Benin, a sub-Saharan African country. To achieve this purpose, a selection of stroke patients was made from the admission registers of the physiotherapy clinics (rehabilitation units) of three reference hospitals in Benin from January to April 2018. Stroke patients who were still continuing their rehabilitation sessions were informed by direct contact. Those who had already finished their sessions were informed by telephone. Sixty stroke patients of those contacted gave their consent and were recruited for this study. The sample consisted of 44 men and 16 women with a mean age of 56.7 ± 10.4 years. Activity limitations, locomotor ability, physical activity, community reintegration, and self-efficacy were self-reported using ACTIVLIM-Stroke, Abiloco-Benin, the Africa francophone version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-AF), the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI), and a French version of the Stroke Self-efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ-F), respectively. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (ρ) were calculated to characterize the relationship between self-efficacy and activity limitations, locomotor ability, physical activity, and community reintegration. According to the results, self-efficacy showed a moderate correlation with physical activity (ρ = 0.65; p < 0.001) and high correlations with activity limitations (ρ = 0.81; p < 0.001), locomotor ability (ρ = 0.72; p < 0.001), and community reintegration (ρ = −0.84; p < 0.001). Thus, self-efficacy emerges as an important factor associated with the functional recovery of stroke patients in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) is commonly used to assess the psychosocial effects of an assistive device. Given its growing use, an appraisal of the evidence regarding ...

Background: A significant proportion of individuals with disabilities in resource-limited countries require at least 1 assistive technology (AT) device to enhance their functioning and autonomy. However, there is limited evidence regarding the actual needs of AT users in these regions concerning the adequacy of ATs. Objective: This research aims to assess the effects of ATs on AT users in a resource-limited country. Methods: A cross-sectional study will be conducted in Benin, a sub-Saharan African country, using a nonprobability sample of AT users. Participants will undergo evaluation using standardized tools to assess their psycho-affective status, satisfaction with ATs, perception of the functional effects of ATs, well-being, and quality of life. Additionally, a survey based on the World Health Organization's rATA (rapid assistive technology assessment) tool will be conducted to gather sociodemographic and other data concerning the use of ATs. The findings will be organized and discussed using the Consortium on Assistive Technology Outcomes Research taxonomy, focusing on aspects related to the effectiveness and social significance of ATs, as well as the subjective well-being of AT users. Results: The process of identifying potential participants began in August 2024, and data collection is scheduled to start in January 2025 and continue for 12 months. Conclusions: This research will provide an overview of the effects induced by the use of ATs, as well as describe the profile of AT users in Benin. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to examine the impact of ATs in Benin. It will therefore make a significant contribution to the existing data on the use of ATs in sub-Saharan Africa. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/60869

To investigate the psychometric properties of the MOSE-Benin, a French-language version of the Measure of Stroke Environment (MOSE) for Sub-Saharan Africa. The original English version of the MOSE has been translated into French following the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation. The resulting questionnaire (MOSE-Benin) was administered to a convenience sample of participants recruited in Benin, a French-speaking country. Eighty-two stroke survivors (41 females; mean ± SD: 54.94 ± 11.6 years old) participated in the study. Internal consistency of each domain of the MOSE-Benin and the overall questionnaire was high (Cronbach's α: 0.78 to 0.92). Test-retest reliability was excellent (n = 31; ICC: 0.977 to 0.998). Overall, the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimum detectable change (MDC) showed very low values (SEM = 0.85; MDC = 2.35). Convergent validity demonstrated moderate correlations for the three domains in separate comparison respectively with the ACTIVLIM-Stroke questionnaire, the Participation Measurement Scale, and the communication domain of the Stroke Impact Scale (r or ρ: 0.42 to 0.54; p < 0.0001). MOSE-Benin has good evidence regarding psychometric properties (i.e., content validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability) that can support its use for the assessment of perceived environmental barriers after stroke in a French-speaking Sub-Saharan African country, such as Benin.

BACKGROUND A significant proportion of individuals with disabilities in resource-limited countries require at least 1 assistive technology (AT) device to enhance their functioning and autonomy. However, there is limited evidence regarding the actual needs of AT users in these regions concerning the adequacy of ATs. OBJECTIVE This research aims to assess the effects of ATs on AT users in a resource-limited country. METHODS A cross-sectional study will be conducted in Benin, a sub-Saharan African country, using a nonprobability sample of AT users. Participants will undergo evaluation using standardized tools to assess their psycho-affective status, satisfaction with ATs, perception of the functional effects of ATs, well-being, and quality of life. Additionally, a survey based on the World Health Organization's rATA (rapid assistive technology assessment) tool will be conducted to gather sociodemographic and other data concerning the use of ATs. The findings will be organized and discussed using the Consortium on Assistive Technology Outcomes Research taxonomy, focusing on aspects related to the effectiveness and social significance of ATs, as well as the subjective well-being of AT users. RESULTS The process of identifying potential participants began in August 2024, and data collection is scheduled to start in January 2025 and continue for 12 months. CONCLUSIONS This research will provide an overview of the effects induced by the use of ATs, as well as describe the profile of AT users in Benin. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to examine the impact of ATs in Benin. It will therefore make a significant contribution to the existing data on the use of ATs in sub-Saharan Africa. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/60869