Social Acceptance

Prosthesis use was consistently described as the primary enabler of community participation, with users travelling considerable distances or late at night to join community activities. Peer support at prosthetic clinics was described as motivating and normalising, fostering a sense of shared experience and encouragement. Occupying positions of authority affirmed identity and redirected social attention away from the amputation. Community participation emerged as central to the acceptance process after limb loss. Participants reported stigma including being stared at, labelled as lame, and feeling their life was over following amputation.