Impacts of spinal cord injury on partners perception of the wives

Abstract

Abstract Background: Spinal cord injury is described as one of the most devastating neurological impairment. It has profound effects on both the spinal injured person and their spouses. Objectives: The objectives are to identify the physical and psychosocial impact, identify the physical and psychosocial impact on the wives, and identify the impact on affecting relationship and intimacy. Methodology: The study was a phenomenological qualitative research design to collect in-depth information of participants‟ perception. Purposive sampling was used and nine participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected. Semi-structured, face to face interviews were conducted to collect the data. Result and Discussion: Most of the SCI patients has loss of movement and sensory, loss of bowel and bladder control. For these reason the wives of the persons with SCI have to handle their husband. They face different physical problems such as low back pain, hand pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and other problems due to handle their husbands. The wives of the person with SCI has worries, mental pressure about how to manage their family. They cannot perform their daily living activities according to previous routine. The research also indicates that most of the participants have intimate relationship with their husbands. They face difficulties with their father-in-laws house, because the people of father-in-law‟s house do not maintain communication and does not help economically. On the other hand they do not face any difficulties with their relatives. Conclusion: Wives of the persons with SCI have negative impact on their physical, psychosocial component. They have also impacts on relationship with husband, family members and relative as well.