How is the Survival Mechanism of Poor People

with Ortho

edic Handica

Femita Adelina

, Suryanto

Student of Magister Psychology, Faculty of Psychology Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia

Department of Personality and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia

Keywords: Efficiency, Family resources, Social support.

Abstract: All orthopedically handicapped people have different survival mechanisms to continue their life, including

the poor people who are orthopedically handicapped. This research has the purpose of analysing the types of

survival mechanism for poor orthopedically handicapped people. The study used a qualitative approach with

an instrumental case study method. The method for collecting data was in-depth interviews. For analyzing

data, the researcher used a thematic analysis technique. The results of this research showed that there were

three survival mechanisms for poor orthopedically handicapped people: 1) orthopedically handicapped

people should reduce their daily needs budget for treatment costs and prosthetic replacement; 2) they

established a home-based small business and empowered family resourses; 3) they utillized social

networking, such as goverment (as a patron) and fellow friends with the orthopedically handicapped. The

poor orthopedically handicapped people not only need material support, they also need non-material help

such as social support. However, this social support was an aspect that had an important role in improving

their psychologic condition rather than other aspects. If there were social support, it makes their lives

happier.

1 INTRODUCTION

Based on the National Socio-Economic Survey

(Susenas) in 2015, the population of disabled people

was 2.45% (5,515,500 people) from 244,919,000

estimated population in 2012. Meanwhile according

to the Social Protection and Service Program (PPLS)

in 2012, the number of disabled people in Indonesia

was 3,828,985 of which there are 263,879

orthopedically handicapped people. A large number

of disabled people generates a special problem

because the number is not comparable with the

ability of the government and the community to

handle these disabled people. According to data of

the Ministry of Social Affairs, the number of

disabled people, government, community (social

organizations of disabled people), family and

international support have a ratio of 101:1, this

means that 101 disabled people were only able to be

handled by 1 government official and other elements

(Window Bulletin, 2014). This showed that the

assistance for disabled people, including

orthopedically handicapped people was still very

limited.

The limits of goverment and its elements of

assistance force disabled people, and especially

orthopedically handicapped people, to find the right

ways to survive. Joining a community seems to be

one of the ways they choose. Percatu Community is

one of the communities for disabled people

specifically for orthopedically handicapped people

in Tulungagung Regency, East Java. Preliminary

studies have been conducted on the Percatu

community, these showed that the majority of this

commuinity’s members were from middle to lower

economies, but they can rise up and develop their

potential through several existing activities such as

cooperative establishment and entrepreneurship

training. Based on the preliminary study above, the

researcher was interested in choosing members of

the Percatu community as this research’s

participants.

According to Somantri (2007), the definition of

orthopedically handicapped is a condition where

they are damaged or disturbed because of a form or

obstacle in the bones, muscles and joints in their

normal function. Or it can be interpreted as a result

of damage or disruption in the bones and muscles

thereby reducing the normal capacity of individuals

406

Adelina, F. and Suryanto, .

How is the Survival Mechanism of Poor People with Orthopedic Handicap?.

DOI: 10.5220/0008590104060409

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Psychology in Health, Educational, Social, and Organizational Settings (ICP-HESOS 2018) - Improving Mental Health and Harmony in

Global Community, pages 406-409

ISBN: 978-989-758-435-0

to follow education and stand alone. Generally, the

characteristics of this disability are divided into two

types, namely muscular skeletal system (such as

poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, amputation of

hands, feet, arms, back defects and abnormal growth

of limbs) and cerebral system (such as language

disorder, reading disability, writing disability,

counting disability and cerebral palsy disorders).

Based on the level of disability, orthopedically

handicapped people can be divided into three

groups, namely mild, moderate and severe.

Based on the previous definition we knew that

imperfect physical conditions meant that disabled

people had to try harder to live well than people with

normal conditions. A preliminary study on the

Percatu community also showed that disability and

poverty forced them to change their life patterns to

fight harder. According to Scott (1990), the ways for

them to fulfil their needs with limited physical and

financial conditions to survive are called the survival

mechanism. In Scott’s (1990) view there are three

ways for poor people to survive: (1) reducing their

food cost by eating only once a day and switching to

lower quality foods; (2) using alternative subsystems

such as self-help which includes small businesses,

working as handymen or laborers, and migrating to

find work; (3) asking for help from social networks

such as relatives, village friends, utilizing

relationships with their patrons. Scott's (1990) study

explains how people can survive in difficult

conditions, especially the poor, atating that difficult

conditions are also experienced by orthopedically

handicapped people. Persons with poor physical

health must survive through greater efforts. Having

the right survival strategy is very important for the

survival of poor orthopedically handicapped people.

From the preliminary exposures above, the

researcher is interested in analyzing how survival

mechanisms work for poor orthopedically

handicapped people.

2 METHOD

This research included qualitative study using

instrumental case studies. The sampling technique

used was purposive sampling. This research’s

samples were two poor orthopedically handicapped

people. The participants’ criteria in this research

were people who were physical disabled, poor and

members of the Percatu (Tulungagung Physical

Disability Association). The method of collecting

data was a deep interview technique. For analysing

data, the researcher used a thematic analysis

technique.

3 RESULTS

This research’s participants were people who

became physically disabled due to traffic accidents.

They used prosthetic legs to make it easier to walk

after their legs were amputated. Previously, daily

needs were only focused on household expenditure

which must be diverted in part to medical needs. In

addition, the cost of replacing a prosthesis which

was quite expensive requires that they make savings

in daily expenses. Savings were the first method of

choice after amputation.

Poor orthopedically handicapped people tried to

find income that was in accordance with their

physical condition after an accident. Limitations of

limb function encouraged them to create small

businesses at home. Imperfect physical conditions

made them unable to pursue their initial profession.

Nevertheless, the disability did not stop them from

fulfilling their daily needs. In carrying out their

business, physically disabled people were assisted

by their wives because there were some jobs that

they cannot complete themselves.

"Yes, after I can't drive anymore, I look for

another job, learn to sew ... I can do that,. So, I'm

sewing now ”(ZN021217: 11-12).

Besides running home-based small businesses,

orthopedically handicapped people also tried to get

side jobs. They hoped to get additional income from

it. However, their limited skills made it become an

expectation only. The absence of parties who help to

provide them with skills was one of the obstacles

In addition to develop small businesses at home,

orthopedically handicapped people also asked for

government assistance. The assistance received

included business and financial assistance. For

financial assistance, it was usually managed directly

by the Percatu community where the assistance was

then channeled to its members in the form of goods

(such as basic needs) because the amount of aid they

receive was small.

The role of Percatu community for its members

was to provide space for fellow members (physically

disabled) to provide mutual support or motivation.

Orthopedically handicapped people who had

previously felt hopeless about their condition could

rise again because they met people who had the

same conditions. They felt they had the same fate, so

they thought to give each other encouragement and

support to other disabled people. This was an

improvement because previously disabled people

withdrew from their social environment because of

their disability.

How is the Survival Mechanism of Poor People with Orthopedic Handicap?

407

"I am happy in Percatu, there are many friends,

so they can give support to each other (KM011217:

100-101)”.

4 DISCUSSION

Based on the results of the research, the survival

mechanism for poor orthopedically handicapped

people was divided into three strategies. First,

orthopedically handicapped people reduced the

expenses of daily needs that were diverted for

medical expenses and substitution of prosthetic

limbs. Second, they used alternative subsystems

such as establishing small businesses at home and

asking for help from their wives to help fulfil their

daily needs. Third, they asked for help from social

networks, such as the government (as patrons) and

fellow disabled people. So, the survival mechanism

for poor orthopedically handicapped people was the

same as that expressed by Scott, but social

networking played an important role in their lives.

As a social network of orthopedically

handicapped people, the Percatu community has

provided space for them to share stories and

strengthen each other. Besides the great support

from the family, the support of fellow disabled

people was also needed. Joining the community of

Percatu has provided positive changes for them.

They were able to rise after experiencing despair

after an accident. This can help them to overcome

their problems, especially psychological problems

because of their disability.

Feist and Feist (2006) state that deficiencies are

one part of an individual's physics and can affect the

individual as a whole. Physical limitations in

orthopedically handicapped people can cause

problems in mobility, activities, and various

psychological problems. The negative view of the

community towards them can also cause a variety of

psychological problems, such as feelings of

inadequacy, worthlessness, despair, and tending to

withdraw. In other words, social support was needed

by orthopedically handicapped people. This was in

accordance with Stuart’s opinion (2007) stating that

orthopedically handicapped people really needed

high social support from their environment, in order

to be able to manage all problems well and to

encourage them to be able to accept themselves and

interact and build good self-confidence to continue

to have high self-esteem.

Sarafino (2002) described social support as

comfort, attention, appreciation, and assistance in

other forms received by individuals from other

people or groups. He also divided social support

into five forms, namely emotional support, award

support, information support, instrumental support,

and group support. While Fiona and Fajrianthi

(2013) stated that social support can be either

emotional or instrumental as well as information.

Based on the forms of social support above, it

can be divided into several forms based on whatever

those orthopedically handicapped people needed.

The presence of attention and empathy was a form

of emotional support that they had received.

Emotional support made them feel comfortable and

loved. Besides that, feeling appreciated by friends

makes them feel more confident and valuable. This

form of support includes forms of award support. In

addition to emotional support and award support,

there is also group support. Sharing stories with

fellow physically disabled people, especially when

they were in a depressed condition, was one form of

group support. Thus there were three forms of social

support received by orthopedically handicapped

people, namely emotional support, appreciation

support and group support.

If looking back to Scott's survival mechanism

theory, it only focused on fulfilling material needs.

Poor orthopedically handicapped people not only

used material assistance from their social networks,

but also focused on non-material assistance. They

still needed material assistance from the government

as patrons, but social support from their social

networks was much more needed. The existence of

great support from social networks was able to

improve their psychological condition so that they

become happier than before.

5 CONCLUSION

Unlike people in perfect physical condition,

orthopedically handicapped people have different

survival mechanisms. Even less if they were in poor

condition. At least, there were three ways for them

to survive, such as reducing daily expenses for

treatment cost and prosthetic replacement, using

sub-system alternatives such as establishing a home-

based small business and asking for the help of their

wives to fulfil the daily needs, and asking for help

from social networking, such as government (as

patron) and fellow friends with orthopedic

handicaps.

The new findings from this research show that

social networking has an important role in

improving their psychological condition. In contrast

to Scott’s opinion, social networking for

orthopedically handicapped people has a crucial role

in giving support and non-material aid. This social

support can make their life happier. Nevertheless,

ICP-HESOS 2018 - International Conference on Psychology in Health, Educational, Social, and Organizational Settings

408

this research still has limets, especially for the

participants. The participants of this research were

limited to orthopedically handicapped people

because of accidents. So, it still has possibility for

congenital abnormalities and people having different

ways of surviving.

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