Abstract:
Background: Physical disabilities as the result of combat can be catastrophic for individuals
because of the sudden limitations in functional activities. Little is known about the experiences
of Ethiopian veterans with combat-related physical disabilities. The lived experiences and coping
strategies of veterans with physical disabilities should be investigated. This study explored the
lived experiences of veterans and how they cope with the challenges they face due to combat related physical disabilities in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Methods; A phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of military
veterans with physical disabilities between June 22 and July 23, 2022. A total of seventeen in depth interviews (IDI) were conducted face-to-face with veterans who had suffered from
combat-related physical disabilities using a semi-structured interview guide. The data were
transcribed and translated verbatim from Amharic to English. Data were coded, categorized, and
analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach on Atlas.ti.7.0.7 software. Finally, the
findings were presented using the themes and categories along with supportive quotations.
Result: The study explored five key emergent themes: experiencing traumatic injury and
disability; treatment and rehabilitation processes; the challenge of reintegration; the life-long
health challenges of disability; and coping strategies. The findings indicated that most
participants experienced lower limb loss, challenges of delay in medical evacuation, loss of
independence or loss of mobility, physical pain, chronic disease, and mental health problems
characterized by depression, anxiety, frustration, and self-suicide associated with combat-related
physical disability. Lack of post-discharge health care services for veterans discharged before
1991, lack of vocational training for veterans discharged after 1991, lack of appropriate
employment, housing problems, a lack of provision and poor quality of prostheses, forcibly
leaving a rehabilitation center, and challenges of reintegrating into society were other challenges
facing study participants. Furthermore, the findings emphasize lifestyle behavior, endurance, and
social support as critical coping strategies for combat-related physical disability challenges.
Conclusions: Findings of this study show that participants face physical pain, chronic disease,
loss of independence, mental health problems, a lack of post-discharge health care, a lack of
prostheses, a lack of vocational training, challenges of reintegration, a lack of appropriate
employment, and housing problems that require national defense, the ministry of women and
social affairs, the ministry of labor and skills, and all concerned bodies to collaborate in their
efforts to mitigate those potential challenges through facilitating and providing needed supports
to respond to those challenges.
