PHYSIOTHERAPY IN A HOMELESS SINGLE MOTHERS GROUP. PRELIMINARY SAMPLE OF THE CONTACT BETWEEN THIS DISCIPLINE AND MOTHERS IN SOCIAL EXCLUSION RISK

Abstract

 Background: the current economic crisis has brought out the precarious situation of people at risk of social exclusion, especially homeless single mothers, and particularly in relation to their access to health services. For them the access to Physiotherapy, which is one of the lesser-known sanitary professions, is especially difficult. Objectives: to describe the relation between a group of homeless single mothers and Physiotherapy as a method for highlighting the need of a greater involvement of it with mothers at risk of social exclusion. To provide some guidelines about the changes that must be done in order to facilitate the access of this social group. Material and method. Study design: descriptive observational study. Participants: eight mothers living in a shelter. They completed the SF-12 questionnaire and a specific questionnaire for this study in which their knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, expectations and experiences in relation to Physiotherapy was analyzed. Results: most respondents have never had contact with Physiotherapy. This situation causes wrong or inexistent beliefs and knowledge about it resulting in insignificant attitudes and expectations towards it. Conclusions: participants show a lack of knowledge and contact with Physiotherapy. This makes obvious the need of a greater actuation of Physiotherapy in these areas, facilitating their access to this health service. Although the results can-not be generalized, we consider them a preliminary approach to the problem, with the aim of facilitating larger studies about the relation between mothers at risk of social exclusion and Physiotherapy as well as raising awareness among physiotherapists. Awareness campaigns and conferences should be done as a first step.