Prosthesis

Access to a prosthesis was perceived as essential to daily life by users across all five LMIC studies, with some framing it as preventing destitution. In Cambodia, prostheses were replaced on average every two years, with replacement rates influenced by gender, usage, weight, and age. Standard prostheses are frequently inadequate for culturally and occupationally important movements in LMIC environments, including squatting, kneeling to pray, and navigating uneven terrain. Poor socket fit causes pain, swelling, and skin problems that limit daily hours of wear and capacity to work. Some prosthesis users needed to remove their device after only four hours due to discomfort, constraining productivity. LMIC prosthesis users typically wore devices until completely non-functional before seeking replacement, driven by financial constraints and limited service access.