Applying a socio-ecological model to understand the psychosocial support services available to students with disabilities in universities

Abstract

The importance of psychosocial support for students with disabilities to participate effectively in universities cannot be overemphasized. As an essential aspect of inclusive practice, psychosocial supports empower students with disabilities and improve their accessibility to and belongingness in higher education. In the Ghanaian context, some attention has been given to challenges students with disabilities encounter during their university education, while less attention has been paid to the types of support they receive. Using Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model as a theoretical framework, this study conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 11 participants with a disability, made up of 10 undergraduate students and one lecturer (physical disability: n=8 and visual impairment: n=3), to understand the nature and extent of psychosocial supports institutionalized for students with disabilities in universities in Ghana. The participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling approaches from one of the largest public universities in Ghana. The interview data were transcribed verbatim, and theoretical thematic analysis was performed. The psychosocial supports received by the students with disabilities that enable them to maintain their status at the university were presented and discussed around three levels: micro-system, meso-system, and exo-system. The result showed that students with disabilities received most of their psychological support from the micro-system. The study concludes with a call to policymakers to consider the important role of stakeholders such as family and peers as well improve support services to enhance the retention of students with disabilities.

Comparative Analysis of Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Properties of Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts of Alstonia boonei Stem-Bark

“…A medicinal plant is defined as any plant that contains substances known as phytochemicals in one or more of its organs that may be used to treat ailments or act as precursors for the synthesis of drugs (Opoku and Akoto, 2015). Phytochemicals are nonnutritive chemical components in plants.…”

“…Phytochemicals are nonnutritive chemical components in plants. They occur during metabolic processes and have been shown possess various therapeutic properties which are helpful in the treatment or alleviation of symptoms of a variety of disease conditions (Opoku and Akoto, 2015). They are secondary metabolites in the leaves, stems, roots,or any part of the plants.…”

“…Itbelongs to the family Apocynaceae. It is found in the tropics and rain forests of West and Central Africa (Opoku and Akoto, 2015). The plant is known in English as Alstonia, cheese wood, pattern wood; Egbu, Egbo-ora (Igbo); Ahun (Yoruba); and Ukhu (Edo) (Okoye et al, 2022).…”

“…The plant is known in English as Alstonia, cheese wood, pattern wood; Egbu, Egbo-ora (Igbo); Ahun (Yoruba); and Ukhu (Edo) (Okoye et al, 2022). Pharmacological studies have shown that the plant extracts possesses anti-malarial, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and hypotensive properties, and so on (Otuu et al, 2020;Opoku and Akoto, 2015). The plant's parts have been used for the treatment of malaria, jaundice, rheumatism, malaria, fever, painful micturition, chronic diarrhea, insomnia, intestinal helminthes, and hypertension, as well as anti-venom against snake bite and other forms of disease in Nigeria and other West African countries (Opoku and Akoto 2015).…”

“…Pharmacological studies have shown that the plant extracts possesses anti-malarial, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and hypotensive properties, and so on (Otuu et al, 2020;Opoku and Akoto, 2015). The plant's parts have been used for the treatment of malaria, jaundice, rheumatism, malaria, fever, painful micturition, chronic diarrhea, insomnia, intestinal helminthes, and hypertension, as well as anti-venom against snake bite and other forms of disease in Nigeria and other West African countries (Opoku and Akoto 2015). In order to evaluate the therapeutic properties of this plant, the study aims to investigate the comparative analysis of phytochemical constituents and antioxidant property of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of A. boonei stem-bark.…”