Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Mental Health Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Rehabilitation Management, Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to a range of personal, family, and social challenges, often resulting in the marginalization of affected individuals. This study aimed to describe the experiences of individuals with spinal cord injury regarding the diverse challenges of life after the injury, including individual, familial, social, and particularly marital and sexual dimensions.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using Graneheim and Lundman’s content analysis on 25 participants were selected from June 2022 to May 2024 in Tehran, Iran. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques from daily centers and through referrals from peers. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The trustworthiness of the data was ensured using Lincoln and Guba’s method.
Results: The Analysis of the participants' interviews identified 22 subcategories and 7 main categories: education as a means of facilitating life, access to information and necessary educational materials, empowerment strategies, spousal understanding for independent living, individual challenges after SCI, socio-cultural challenges, and governance-related issues.
Conclusion: Addressing life challenges after spinal cord injury can lead to empowerment and reintegration of these individuals into society. Improving their quality of life also contributes to better acceptance of the condition by the affected individuals and the community.
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