Determinants of return to work and the development of a return to work programme for stroke survivors in Osun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Stroke is acknowledged globally and among Nigerian rehabilitation researchers as a public health problem that leave half of its survivors with significant neurological deficits. The attendant sequelae of stroke affects the functional ability, limits activity performance and participation of stroke survivors within the community. The inability to re-establish pre-existing roles after stroke further poses additional challenges on the society, friends and families of the stroke survivor with regards to cost and burden of care. Although stroke disrupt the career pathway of working age survivors briefly, recurrently or permanently; a systematic pathway that facilitates job placement and retention at work for stroke survivors could reduce the devastation and burden caused by unemployment following stroke. As this vocational rehabilitation pathway and programme is currently unavailable for stroke survivors, this study aimed to design a RTW intervention programme that could facilitate the work re-entry for stroke survivors in the state of Osun, Nigeria.