Beyond the Injuries: Exploring the Perceived Environmental Barriers to Sustainable Living for Persons with Traffic-Related Disabilities in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major global public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Nigeria. In addition to fatalities, RTIs result in a significant number of people living with disabilities. Previous studies have emphasized challenges faced by persons with disability resulting from congenial and pathogenic conditions. However, this study investigated the perceived challenges facing people with traffic-related disabilities (TRD) in Southwestern Nigeria in order to gain insight into the lived experiences of persons living with TRD and inform effective policy interventions. The Social Model of Disability anchors this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 421 people with TRD. Using structured questionnaire, data were collected on socio-demographics, injury characteristics, and perceived challenges. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, while qualitative data was content analyzed. Respondents’ age was 36.9±15.46 years, major reported TRD cases were Amputation (35.4%), spinal-cord-injury (30.0%), hearing impairment (12.8%) and paraplegia (10.5%). The results showed that the most common perceived challenges were reduced income (34.5%), immobility (30.1%), neglect (20.3%), and non-inclusive building designs (15.0%). Analysis shows that there was no significant difference in the cost of rehabilitation between males (M = 2.9, SD = 1.11) and females (M = 2.8, SD = 1.25) (t(307.2) = 0.393, p = 0.531).  Content analysis revealed that perceived challenges were job loss, difficulty using public transportation, and environmental barriers. This study underscores the imposition of substantial socio-economic and environmental challenges on affected individuals with TRD. The study recommends interventions that focus on improving access to public transportation, access to rehabilitation services, and promoting social inclusio and quality of life.