Baseline Protocol: Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities in Health Facilities and Home-Based Care in Binh Dinh and Quang Nam Province

Funded by USAID and implemented by PHAD in collaboration with CRS, the project aims to develop a sustainable and expandable model to improve the inclusion of 2,000 people with severe disabilities in the target provinces. The project's direct objectives include strengthening 10 interdisciplinary rehabilitation units at provincial and district levels in Binh Dinh province, providing home-based care services to 600 people with severe disabilities in Binh Dinh and Quang Nam provinces, and capacity building for healthcare staff at all levels on the usage, operation, and management of the Disabilities Information System (DIS) of the Ministry of Health. Indirect objectives include capacity building for rehabilitation medical staff and the development of interdisciplinary rehabilitation units with occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy to develop the field of rehabilitation comprehensively. The project also aims to generate information and data to inform relevant government agencies under the Ministry of Health on the importance of interdisciplinary rehabilitation units in healthcare support for people with disabilities. To achieve these objectives, the project conducted a baseline investigation to gather information on the situation and capacity to provide care and rehabilitation for people with severe disabilities in health facilities and home-based care settings. The investigation used a cross-sectional study design, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, and involved data collection through documents review, secondary data questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and structured questionnaires. The sample size for quantitative data collection was calculated to be 210 people with severe disabilities and their main caregivers, while the sample size for qualitative data collection included focus group discussions and key informant interviews with various stakeholders, including caregivers, healthcare staff, and community leaders. The project's baseline investigation aimed to describe the situation and capacity to provide care and rehabilitation for people with severe disabilities in health facilities and home-based care settings, identify baseline indicators as the foundation for assessing the impact and results of the project, and provide a basis for intervention. The investigation's findings will inform the project's implementation and evaluation, ultimately contributing to the development of a sustainable and expandable model for improving the inclusion of people with severe disabilities in Binh Dinh and Quang Nam provinces, Vietnam.