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The purpose of this article was to qualitatively analyse the extent to which community based rehabilitation programmes have been evaluated over the past thirty years. A framework of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis was used in conducting this analysis. Using an extensive search of MEDLINE, 22 articles were located that described and evaluated one or more dimensions of CBR. Three studies each from Australia, India, Zimbabwe and two studies each from England, Philippines, Vietnam and one each from Finland, Guyana, Jamaica, Japan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, and United States were included in the analysis. A variety of methods used, most evaluations conducted in community settings, focus on mobility related evaluations by most programmes, and development of new instruments were the strengths of CBR evaluations. Some of the weaknesses were lack of consistency in outcome measures, lack of cost benefit and cost effectiveness studies, small sample size of many studies, and lack of focus on other than mobility related disabilities by most projects. The opportunities for CBR evaluations pertain to training assessments, use of mixed models, using indicators from a standard taxonomy, and focusing on medical rehabilitation. The threats to CBR evaluations are a need to prioritise from multifarious activities and having limited resources for evaluation.

Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal, Vol 18, No 1

Western stereotypes of 'community' are used in the planning of many CBR programmes in developing countries. These programmes expose themselves to a higher risk of failure because they tend to conflict with the cultural factors of the host country. This editorial illustrates the significance of cultural influences on disability and rehabilitation in the context of CBR