DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL GARMENTS FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED WHEELCHAIR AND BEDRIDDEN FEMALES IN BENUE STATE

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to develop functional garments for physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females (PCWBF)  in Benue State, Nigeria. Specifically,  the study determined  the characteristics and activities of the PCWBF that dictated their garment requirements, garment needs and types preferred by the PCWBF and developed design features needed for the drafting of patterns for functional  garments  for the PCWBF.  Other specific objectives  were establishment  of average body measurements  of PCWBF  in small,  medium  and large sizes,  development  of basic pattern pieces  for  the three  groups  and  construction  of  prototype  functional  garments  (PFG)  based  on adaptations  of the pattern pieces developed.   Appropriateness  of the PGF on the different sizes of PCWBF was determined by test fitting; fit, comfort, ease of mobility, acceptability,  aesthetics and expressive attributes were assessed by the users and the judges. Seven research questions and two null hypotheses  guided the study. The research design was Research and Development  (R & D). Two models: Function, Expressive and Aesthetic (FEA) model and the Universal Design Principles (UDP) guided the study. The population for the study was 9940 and sample was 653  respondents respectively.  The instruments  for data collection  were Garment  Needs  Assessment  Questionnaire (GNAQ),  Body  Measurement   Chart  (BMC),  Observation  Checklist   (OCL)  and  Garment  Fit Assessment  Questionnaire  (GFAQ).  Reliability  of  GNAQ  and  GFAQ  were  tested:  inter-  rater reliability Coefficient for section A of GNAQ tested using Kendall’s W Coefficient of Concordance was 0.773. Internal  consistency  for  sections B and C using Cronbach  Alpha Coefficients  yielded

0.643 and 0.764 respectively. Internal consistency for GFAQ were 0.774(fit), 0.688 (comfort), 0.854 (Aesthetics)  and 0.725 (expressive)  respectively.   Data collected were analyzed using percentages and  means.  One  –way  ANOVA  was  used  to  test  the  two  null  hypotheses  at  0.05  levels  of significance.  Results showed that PCWBF  have curved spines,  disproportionate torsos and limbs that may be dysfunctional. Garment needs of PCWBF were characterized by need for donning and doffing  and  concealment   of  deformed  parts  of  body,   emotional,  psychological   and  physical independence  indicated  by  55.4%,  32.6%  and 69.0%  PCWBF  respectively.  Preferred  garment designs  were  ¾  Length,  free  and  short  sleeve  lengths,  cotton  fabrics,  dull  floral  colours  with aesthetic  and  expressive  features.  Size  categorization  of PCWBF  were   large (58.4%),  medium (26.9%), small (14.7%). A total of 72 basic block patterns were drafted for small, medium and large sizes each for trouser,  skirts, blouses, gowns. Thirteen prototype  functional  garments (PFG) were developed by adapting the basic blocks.  All fourteen functional  and aesthetic designs  were rated above  satisfactory  (4± 0.33)  five expressive  designs  were rated above satisfactory  (3.67 ± 0.5). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between users and judges on physical requirements for concealment of deformity; responses of judges on colour of fabrics needed for PFG for the PCWBF. Recommendations  included:  Therapy for PCWBF  in-patients  should include  teachings  by nurses and Home Economics  Extension Agents on functional garment usage. Ready- to- wear functional garments should form parts of the discharge kit for PCWBF on  discharge from hospital. Extracts from this study should be included for teaching clothing students especially tertiary institutions.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Clothes are complex but very important  aspect of everyone’s  life. The quest  for suitable clothing for individuals in various endeavours of life is old. Clothes encompass all forms of dresses/  garments,  ornaments,  foot and head  coverings  worn  on the body for various purposes.  Carroll (2001) documented  that beginning  in the  1940s in the United States  of  America  medical  professionals  started  to  examine  the  relationship  between clothing and physical disabilities. Carroll (2001) further noted that clothing is an important facet  of  human  constructed  environment  surrounding  an  individual  and  therefore  has bearing on the quality of life. Presently in Nigeria, the health sector and the entire society are concerned about the wellbeing of the physically challenged. This is evidenced by the awakening of different  governments  to the needs of this group of people.  For instance, Ebonyi State  government  offers automatic  employment  to disabled  graduates of tertiary institutions (Stober, 2009). The federal government through the Ministry for Women Affairs and Social development in conjunction with National Bureau of Statistics is taking a census of all persons with disabilities in Nigerian to enable effective planning for their integration into  the society  (Michael,  2009).  Ikoni and  Dura  (2011)  documented  that  the National President of Persons with Disability (PD) confirmed the commencement of the formulation of national policies aimed at integrating Persons with Disability into governance. Correct, functional garments has direct bearing with the effectiveness of the Physically Challenged as they get integrated into the society and get engaged in different works of life.

Until recently there has been much controversy on what terminology is appropriate to holistically accommodate without damaging the personality of people  with disabilities. Hence,  different  terminologies  were  used  to  describe  those  with  physical  impairments especially in relation to their garments. The terminologies include physically handicapped

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(Shannon and Reich, 1979), people with physical limitations (Reich and Shannon,  1980), people with special needs (Lamb 1991), physically disabled (Klerk and Ampousah 1996). More   recent   terminologies   include   persons   with  physical   challenges,   persons   with disabilities (Carroll 2001, Chase and Quinn 2003). The argument is that the term physical disability psychologically opens the possibility for personal potential in all human beings, whether able-bodied or handicapped. Handicap   is a measure of the individuals own self- perception; an able bodied person may feel ‘handicapped’  while a person with disability may not feel ‘handicapped’ (Chase and Quinn 2003).

Different  types of physical disabilities  or challenges  exist among  human  beings. Stanford (2000) classified physical disabilities as follows:

           Congenital Disabilities, for example Physical Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome. These originate from birth due to known,  unknown or unidentifiable reasons.

           Acquired Disabilities, for example, Spinal Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Broken limbs, Bone fractures, Alzheimer’s disease (Dementia), arising from infections of immune system, worn out state of the human body and sometimes as a  result of accident; natural or unnatural.

           Developmental  Disabilities  or Learning disabilities  for example  Attention  Deficit Disorder  (ADD),  Dyslexia,  Mental  retardation,  learning  disorder  resulting  from brain injury.

Reduced or impaired mobility resulting in sitting on wheelchair or bedridden may be the result of disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, amputation, accident or impact and the effect of these challenges are rarely identical.  The wheelchair bound or bedridden person lives a relatively sedentary life. Chase and Quinn (2003) documented that body deformations such as spinal curvatures, disparity in length and size of limbs  are associated with  people sitting on wheelchair or using crutches or bedridden; each person may have peculiar body shapes.

All states of human disabilities in one or the other could hamper complete utilization of part of the human body effectively and therefore has a bearing on the  effective and convenient  use  of  garments.    Garments  are  forms  of  clothes,  including gowns,  skirts, blouses,  shirts  or  tops,  and trousers  specially constructed  to  protect  the body from  the weather  and  other  environmental  hazards,  promote  health  and  safety  and  improve  job efficiency.   Different degrees of physical  disability or physical challenges have peculiar needs  of special  garments  referred  to  as functional  garments.  Functional  garments  are specially constructed body coverings using fabrics that are effective in meeting the specific needs of the wearers in attending to different activities. Sproles and Burns (1994) averred that  all  clothing  (including  garments)  worn  by  people  perform  intrinsic  and  social- psychological functions. The intrinsic functions of clothing outlined by Sproles and Burns (1994)  are;  protection,  modesty,  immodesty  and  adornment.  All  of  the  four  intrinsic functions performed by clothing are relevant to the physically challenged person.

Social-psychological functions of clothes, termed the functionality of clothes attend to the following needs;

    need to be up-to-date

    need to adjust to a changing society

    desire to escape boredom

    need for symbolic differentiation

    need for social affiliation.

Chase and Quinn (2003) asserted that it is important to consider both the physical need and limitations of the individual as well as the psychological impact that a disability can have on that  person  while  designing  garments  for  the  physically  challenged  person.  All  human beings develop their first sense of self from their own bodies. The physically challenged persons  understand  ‘who  they are’ based  on what  they can  do  on a physical  level.  A person’s self-perception is strongly affected by how the society views him or her. The two

combined perceptions, physical and social, result in an individual’s self-esteem. Chase and Quinn (2003) noted that when a person becomes disabled, the perception of self  is often confused, damaged  or even lost. Becoming disabled  can be equated to even  death. The person goes through grieve and mourning. The process results in some sort of resolution and acceptance of the disability and a willingness to rebuild a sense of self and self-esteem.  The individual wishes to look normal again.    Consciousness  and  concern of a patient about clothing  and  appearance  is an  indication  of psychological  recovery  (Chase  and  Quinn,

2003).  Appropriate clothing, according to Breza (2007) provides emotional satisfaction for the patients and aids the healing process. Ikoni and Dura (2011) noted that disability is a major cause of social exclusion. Wheelchair bound females, and bedridden people require special clothing for fulfilling both intrinsic and socio- psychological needs such as comfort, ease of donning and doffing, as well as ease in attending to basic daily needs (BDN).

All people have basic human needs; meeting these needs provides satisfaction and enjoyment in life and clothing helps to meet some of these needs. Carroll (2001) reiterated that research in social and psychological  context have proved how people  with physical disabilities perceive their clothing needs and how external people  perceive their clothing needs. Further  experiments  conducted  on people with physical  disabilities revealed  four reasons why people with disabilities wear clothes were:

(a)       Concealment; covering undesirable parts of the body

(b)       Deflection to other body attribute less discrediting than their disability

(c)       Compensation,  expression of mastery in an area that is close to the person  with disabilities

(d)       Emphasis of social uniqueness of subjects’ situation (uniqueness of disability). Carroll (2001) argued that parallels exist between the reasons for wearing clothes by people with disabilities and people without disabilities.  Chase and Quinn (2003)  reaffirmed  the need for compensation; a parallel to protection as reflected in choice of appropriate texture

of fabric that should cushion or suit the wheelchair user. The choice of fabric should be comfortable  and  not  abrasive  to  the body.  All  special  garment  needs  for  persons with physical disabilities or challenges can be met through designing (Chase and Quinn 2003).

Garment  fashion  for  the  physically  challenged  and  bedridden  female  (PCWBF) require  updating  to enable them  feel fulfilled  in the society where they  had  been long forgotten.  The need  of the PCWBF  for new social  integration  into  the  society place  a demand on garment designers to update their garment designs that will enable them function properly  at their  points  of  integration.  The  old  idea  of a  disregarding  or  discarding  a wheelchair bound person or bedridden individual is fast eroding especially as these group of people make undaunted effort at being recognized by the government.

Designing is aimed at creating a beautiful object that possesses both aesthetics and functionality. Designing is more than just creativity; it entails conceptualization of the needs of the wearer and accommodating the solution to those needs in the design. For instance, in considering the functionality of a designed garment for a physically challenged person, the designer focuses on the physical requirements in dressing that are the results of a particular disability (Chase and Quinn, 2003).The aesthetic aspect of the design; termed the elements of design is viewed as interplay of line, form (shape and space), texture and colour of the garment and other materials used on the garment. These elements of design must be applied artistically.    The  artistic  guidelines  that  dictate  the  use  of  the  elements  of design  are: balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm and harmony. The elements and principles of design properly applied work together to bring about beauty and effectiveness (functionality) of the designed  functional  garment  for the physically challenged.  Designing is the first step in garment development.

Garment development process consist several steps: identification of the needs of the wearers, drafting the patterns and construction of the garments (DeJonge, 1984; Lamb and Kallal, 1992 and Kaiser, 1997).  In all, a prototype garment should be produced, tested

and corrected  to meet the desired specifications  of a design.   A prototype garment  is  a garment made to specification of a design for the purpose of fitting using a cheaper fabric. The beginning of the production process after designing is the development of the patterns termed the block patterns.

The development of block patterns prior to garment construction is very crucial to a dress maker, since it provides opportunity for every correction to be effected after series of fitting using prototype garments on the figure before the final garment construction. Pattern drafting or development is the art of drawing and documenting all instructions needed for constructing a garment or any sewing project using a set of measurements (Weber, 1990; Igbo and Iloeje, 2003). All humans have peculiar  shapes  and sizes. Size and shape are crucial factors in pattern development. Aldrich (2006) asserted that size system in garments production is based on the body and not the garment; it is viewed in relation to clothing as a designation  system which explains  the  manner  in which a garment  fits into the wearer. Decker   (2007)  defines   size  as   the  relative   bigness,   extent  and  series  of  standard measurement that are made and sold.   No matter the function of any garment on the user, the  size  must  be  proportionate  to  the  wearer  to  achieve  the  purpose  for  which  it  is constructed. Chase and Quinn (2003) noted people with disabilities have peculiar features and  needs which should be taken care of in designing his or her garment at the pattern development stage.

Benue State like most other States of the federation is fast developing. Development and growth has its attendant characteristics and challenges. For instance due to population increase, Benue State has witnessed an increased need for transportation. The most popular and  easiest  modes  of  transportation  for  relatively  short  distances  are  the  motor  bikes popularly referred to as “going.” The use of motor bikes and other forms of transportation have increased the incidence of accident resulting in broken limbs (Acquired disabilities)

and even death.   When motor bike accidents occur, the worst hits are those being carried since they have no firm grip on the bike. These victims could be females who rarely ride the bikes themselves but move from one area to another frequently.

Some females have diseases such as paralysis, arthritis and receive medical attention in different hospitals as well as from traditional bone fixers. Worthy of  note  is also the proneness of middle age females to bone breakage and paralysis than men. Osteoporosis; decreased density of bones resulting in bone fracture, easily is  said  to be more common among women especially of late to middle age (Kottke 1982). Other causes of wheelchair incapacitation for females include paralysis and stroke as a result of child birth. This makes it imperative for the need for functional clothing for this group of people. These individuals have  their  own  garment  needs  which  are  a challenge  for  large  scale  manufacturers  of clothes.

Statement of the Problem

Women  with  disabilities  comprise  a sizeable  group  and  frequently  subjected  to multiple discrimination; both disability and gender based (Ikoni and Dura, 2011). They are among  the  vast  number  of  physically  challenged   persons  seeking   recognition   and integration into work force in Nigeria.

Recognizing   that   clothes   (garments):   the   second   skin  are  the   next   closest environment to human body, if the individual is deprived of the opportunity to wear choice garments as well as elaborate desired styles due to inability to move the limbs appropriately the  woman  with  disability  is  disadvantaged.  This  aspect  of  the  needs  of women  with disabilities is often neglected by garment producers.   Thorén  (1990), Carroll (2001) had noted that today’s clothing market is not adapted for people with unusual body dimensions and or different kinds of functional impairments.

In  garment  design,  there  is  constant  need  for  developing  designs  that  are  in consonance with current fashion. Fashion is dynamic and changes in garment styles reflect the mood, need and the current issues in a society. The physically challenged need to wear garments that are current in fashion hence current changes in fashion need to be reflected in the design of the garments

Commercial  patterns  that  are  made  in  Nigeria  are  not  available.    Commercial patterns specifically drafted for use in construction of functional garments for persons with disabilities are unavailable. Commercial patterns imported to Nigeria are devoid of essential features  for direct  translation  into  garments  for persons  with  physical  disabilities.  Such patterns will require major alterations which can only be carried out by well-trained garment constructors.   This poses a problem to garment constructors who are not conversant with pattern drafting prior to garment construction and the wearers.

There is disparity in the size, shape and figure type of the white and black females. For instance, size charts developed for white females are made to fit on the body silhouettes while size charts for African females is characterized by extra allowances for freeness. The implication is that, there is need for establishment of specific patterns for garments for the physically challenged black females using their own anthropometric measurements.

Physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females require special comfortable garment designs due to their peculiar shapes and sizes to attend to their daily activities. The presence  of  physical  challenges/disabilities  robs  people  of easy  movement  within  their immediate  environment  as well as  interaction  with  the  society  in terms  of  movement, emotional  and  psychological  satisfaction  with  what   they  are  wearing.  Inappropriate garments  styles  worn  for  the  listed  activities  hamper  easy  movement  and  optimum performance and accomplishment of the persons with physical disabilities.

Garments that provide accessibility for caregivers, relatives of persons with physical disabilities into body parts that require cleaning, medical care and help the  caregivers to attend to the needs of the physically challenged person quicker and easier are not available in Benue State and in Nigeria.   Persons  with physical  disabilities  need  to enjoy better services  and  less  pain  or  inconveniences  in  garment  usage.  Garments  with  functional elements  such  as  detachable  portions,  easy-to-handle   fasteners  enable  the  physically challenged  person to attend to her daily activities  with very little or no assistance  from caregivers  and relatives.  However,  it was  observed  that the existing  garments  worn by physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females in Benue State are devoid of these necessary  design/style   components.   Physically  challenged   wheelchair   and  bedridden females tie wrappers  and normal garments that pose restrictions to their movements and hamper caregivers from accessing areas of their bodies that need medical care.

Added  to  the  physical  incapacitations,  the  hospitals  are  usually  inadequately equipped  to aid the PCWBF patients’ toileting easily and comfortably or  changing their garments. Patients need to doff or don their clothes partially or  totally for some medical treatment   such  as  wound-dressing,   physiotherapy  as  well   as  bathing  and  toileting. Sometimes the treatments are done inside the wards with scanty screening from the glare of other  inmates,  especially  if  the  physically  challenged  or  bedridden  person  is  totally incapacitated.

Medical aids service providers are very few relative to patients on admission in the hospitals or rehabilitation centres. For instance, at the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, in July 2007, the ratio of nurse to patient on admission especially at night was as 1: 20. It is difficult for these few number of nurses to attend adequately to the relatively larger number of patients without been over stressed and frustrated after a day’s work. In addition, some hospitals have formulated policies that disallow  patients’  relatives from stay in hospitals with their patients due to lack of space  and  need  to ensure hygienic  environment.  The

absence of patients’ relatives further compounds the problem of donning and doffing by the physically challenged and bedridden to attend to basic needs, while on admission  in the hospital. Patients with broken bones, fractured limbs those with excessive  weight require extra care to be attended to by relatives and caregivers when there is a need for donning and doffing their garments.  Sitting on the wheelchair  or bedridden  could result in increased weight, stiffness of joints and weakness; compounding the difficulty of donning and doffing garments for the users and the care givers. Garments without special/ functional opening and  closures  pose  more  problems  than  garments  with  special/  functional  opening  and closures.

Non availability of functional garments that help PCWBF to attend to daily activities with much ease, and equally enable caregivers and relatives to assist the PCWBF with much ease is a problem in Benue State.

Although, researches on designs and developments of functional/special garments for persons with physical disabilities and people in different professions have been carried out in Nigeria,  UK  and USA,  no  specific  researches  have been carried  out to develop functional  garments  for  the  PCWBF  in  Benue  State,  Nigeria.  This  gap  needs  ample attention, hence this study.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study was to develop functional garments for  physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females (PCWBF) in Benue State.

Specifically, the study.

1.        determined  the  activities  of  physically  challenged  wheelchair  and  bed  ridden females (PCWBF) that characterise their garment needs in Benue State

2.        determined  garments  types  preferences  of  physically  challenged  wheelchair  and bedridden females and the judges.

3.        determined     the  characteristics  of  garment     needed  by  physically  challenged wheelchair and bedridden females in Benue State

4.        developed design features needed for the drafting of the patterns for garments for physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females

5.        established average body measurements of different sizes of physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females and grouped them into small, medium and large

6.         developed pattern pieces for the three sizes (small, medium and large) of physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females

7.        produced constructed garments based on the adaptations of the  basic patterns pieces developed

8.        determined  the  appropriateness  of  the  garments  on  the  different  sizes  (small, medium,   large)  users  by  testing-   fitting   for  fit,  comfort,   ease  of   mobility, acceptability,   aesthetics   and  expressive   variables   of  the   prototype   functional garments

9.        determined the judges’ ratings of the appropriateness of the garments in terms of fit, comfort, ease of mobility, acceptability, aesthetics and expressive variables of the prototype functional garments

10.      compared the ratings of the users and judges based on fit, comfort, ease of mobility, acceptability,   aesthetics   and  expressive   variables   of  the   prototype   functional garments.

Research Questions:

The following seven research questions formed the basis of this study.

1.   What are the activities of physically challenged wheelchair and bed ridden females

(PCWBF) that characterise their garment needs?

2.   What types of garments are preferred by the physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females and the judges?

3.   What  are  characteristics  and  design  features  of garments    needed  by  physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females in Benue State

4.   What  design  features  (functional,  aesthetic  and  expressive)  are  needed  for  the drafting of patterns for functional garments of PCWBF?

5.   What are the average body measurements of the three sizes (small, medium, large) of  physically  challenged  wheelchair  and  bedridden  females  needed  for  drafting patterns for functional garments?

6.   What are the mean responses of the physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females  (users)  on  fit,  comfort,  ease  of  mobility,  acceptability,  aesthetics  and expressive variables of the prototype functional garment?

7.   What are the mean responses of the judges on aesthetics and expressive variables of the prototype functional garment?

Hypotheses

The following  null hypotheses  were tested for the study at a 0.05 level  of significance.

Ho1: There is no significant difference in the mean responses of users and judges on the category of requirements that characterised  garment needs of physically  challenged wheelchair and bedridden females.

Ho2: There  is  no  significant  difference  in  the  mean  responses  of  judges  (nurses  and Clothing  and  Textile  lecturers)  on the  aesthetic  attributes  of  prototype  functional garments required by PCWBF

Significance of the Study

The positive effect of garments  on self-esteem,  performance  and productivity  on persons with disabilities  or physical challenges  could be enhanced  by use of  functional garments. Physical disabilities vary, therefore the garment designs that will satisfy the needs of various users must be properly articulated to provide appropriate patterns for subsequent functional  garment  producers.  Functional  garments  designs   aim  at  fulfilling  several functions beyond physical protection of the wearer: the satisfaction of fit, comfort, ease of mobility, acceptability, aesthetics and expressive attributes are inclusive. The considerations of these requirements in the design and development of the functional garments will address the yearnings of persons with disabilities in carrying out daily activities normally with less difficulties and reduce burden on their caregivers and relatives in Benue State, Nigeria.

This study is expected to provide information for the PCWBF and their caregivers on appropriate functional  garments.  The patterns will provide relevant  base for garment producers;  the  patterns  could  influence  garment  manufacturing  companies  to  develop further designs, produce the garments, fit-test on users and create a market niche for persons with disabilities in Benue Nigeria.

The  findings  of  this  study,  specifically,  will  provide  ready-made  patterns  for garment  production sector of Nigeria  economy.   Garment production  entrepreneurs  will benefit from this study since the patterns could be used for mass production of functional garments.  Sale  of  garments  produced  from  the  pattern  will  generate  income  for  such entrepreneurs.  The  construction  of  garments  will  provide  employment  for  the  garment construction sector of economy.

The  finding  of  this  study  is  of  great  significance  to  the  physically  challenged wheelchair and bed ridden females in their homes as well as female in-patients. The use of the  garments  will provide  comfort  in clothing.  Physical  and  emotional  stability will be enjoyed by the physically challenged wheelchair bound  and female in-patients since their

movement and participation in the larger society are enhanced. This research will help in providing a variety of suitable garments  for a variety of activities for wheelchair  bound females.  The  block  patterns  can  be  adapted  to  produce  other  interesting  styles.  The functional garments made using the results of this research will enable smooth operation by physically challenged wheelchair females as they get employment into the civil service.

The aged or elderly and the sick that may have incontinency problems in the use of toilet will also find the garment very helpful. This is because the garments designs also have Universal Design features.  Their caregivers will enjoy some relief due to the design of the garment  if used  appropriately.  Nurses  (caregivers)  and  hospital  maids  will  have  fewer challenges  in  attending  to  the  nursing  needs  of  physically  challenged  wheelchair  and bedridden  patients  especially  if the  designed  garment  are  constructed  and  given to  the patients. Such employees will face less stress in their work environments. Social workers who attend to garment needs of the physically challenged wheelchair and the bedridden will find their duty easier.  Some of the advantages accruing from the use of functional garments will ameliorate  the suffering  of relatives  of wheelchair  and  bedridden  females.  This  is because, the users of such garments will experience less dependence on their relatives while donning and doffing, receiving medical attention, reaching out to pick some items, toileting by themselves.

The   research   will   provide   information   for   government   and   private   health establishments. The government hospitals have employed garment constructors who do not have knowledge of pattern drafting but can use already made patterns. The drafted patterns resulting  from  this  study  will  be  used  for  constructing  garments  for  the  physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden female in- patients. The provision of the garments to this special group of patients will help the hospitals’ administration to achieve their policies about less involvement by patient’s relatives in the care of in -patients since such patients have greater independence on relatives and hospitals’ care givers and ward attendants. The

use  of  the  functional  garments  could  be  introduced  to  patients  in  both  private  and government hospitals via clothing therapists in the hospitals.

Information  obtained  from  this  research  will  help  the  government  to  formulate policies in the hospitals that will ensure hygiene and safety of both the  workers and the patients especially  in relation to clothing.  The findings  from this  study will  aid Curriculum planners and the education sector. Schedule of practical for pattern drafting for clothing and textile students especially in tertiary institutions can be guided by the findings of this study.  For instance the method of drafting the blocks in this study could be adopted in teaching pattern drafting in the tertiary institutions. The research findings can be compiled as a text book for teaching some courses in Home Economics in tertiary institution. The study of clothing needs of the physically challenged is important since there is a new impetus by the Nigeria government to integrate them into the main stream. The utilization of such materials will be achieved by direct recommendation to the Nigerian Educational  Research and Development  Council  (NERDC)  and National  University  Commission (NUC) which are responsible for reviewing and approving the curriculum of Secondary Schools and Universities respectively.

Delimitations

The study was delimited to adult females with physical challenges with restricted movement of the lower limbs that are wheelchair bound or bedridden.   Full description of clinical ailments of the patients/ physically challenged wheelchair and bedridden females is beyond the scope of this study. A non- randomized selection of respondents was used for the garment needs assessment and appropriateness determination in the study. Hence, the findings of this study may be generalized  only on the smaller population and the sample used within the geographical area covered.   The study was delimited to three sizes (small, medium, large) according to the  measurements  utilized for the study and the styles and quality of the garments developed.

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