Rehabilitation of post-stroke aphasia in Ghana

BackgroundAphasia, a common consequence of stroke, which affects both communication and social functioning, and in turn, quality of life, is on the rise due to increases in stroke prevalence and survival rate. The rehabilitation of post-stroke aphasia primarily falls within the purview of speech-language pathology and research supports the effectiveness of such services. However, provision of aphasia rehabilitation services in sub-Saharan Africa is associated with challenges.AimsThis study aimed to examine rehabilitation services for individuals with post-stroke aphasia in Ghana by exploring the roles of the stakeholder groups involved in the assessment and treatment of post-stroke aphasia in Ghana, as well as the challenges they encounter in providing or identifying services. The stakeholder groups included educational institutions, interdisciplinary healthcare professionals, and family caregivers of individuals with post-stroke aphasia.Methods & ProceduresA qualitative case study approach was used to collect and integrate from multiple sources data such as demographic information, interview responses and program syllabi to develop a holistic image. Fifteen respondents from the stroke and speech therapy units at Komfo Anokye and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals, University of Ghana, and University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana were purposively sampled. Interview questions were developed and centred on aphasia education and training, knowledge of speech-language pathology services, speech-language pathology service delivery, access to speech-language pathology services, challenges in both delivery and access to speech-language pathology services and suggestions for improving speech-language pathology services. In-person and virtual interviews were conducted after demographic information was collected. Interviews were analysed thematically, and demographic information and program syllabi were triangulated with the interview data collected.Outcomes & ResultsAll stakeholder groups identified concerns with current aphasia services in Ghana. Issues raised included the insufficient number of speech-language pathologists, lack of awareness of speech-language pathology services for post-stroke aphasia (among healthcare professionals and the public), absence of aphasia management information and clinical training in educational programming, lack of interest in speech-language pathology training programs, financial challenges, spiritual and traditional beliefs and geographic barriers (i.e., speech-language pathology services are currently available in only a few cities).Conclusions & ImplicationsThese findings emphasised the need to improve post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation in Ghana. The process of data collection itself educated respondents on the importance of post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation, and by identifying barriers, strategies to improving services, such as designing standardised aphasia assessments for the Ghanaian context, can now be initiated.