Living as Women with Lower Limb Amputation: A Phenomenological Study

In India, there is constitutional provision to ensure right to life with dignity to every citizen of the country. But in reality, the persons with locomotor disability, particularly the females having such disability are not always treated by the society in a dignified manner. The major cause of locomotor disability being amputation of lower limb/s, and use of prosthesis being a ray of hope to get back their independence in movement as well as to rebuild their identity to some extent, the female lower limb prosthetic users are the most appropriate sample for a study that wants to throw light on the mental health consequences of a life devoid of dignity. The present study aims to delve deep into the psychological world of six women selected purposively from SVNIRTAR, Cuttack who were using lower limb prosthesis following amputation. Data relating to their lived experiences were collected by semi-structured interview. Interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was adopted to study   the day-to-day pragmatic challenges faced by them following amputation as well as after prosthesis use. The study identified a number of physical, psychological, social and cultural consequences of lower limb amputation in women. The findings show that the loss of a leg and, subsequent   restricted mobility imply an existential dimension in terms of limitation of action space and loss of freedom experienced as an exclusion from social life, challenging their sense of dignity which to an extent could be restored after using prosthesis.