Navigating Health Challenges in Post-2010 Haiti: Disability, Informal Caregiving, and Community Strategies

While systemic healthcare challenges in low-resource settings are well-documented in Haiti, the lived experiences of persons with disabilities navigating these challenges remain underexplored. This study examines how Haitian adults with physical disabilities acquired during the country's most devastating earthquake address their health needs amid unreliable healthcare access. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of semistructured interviews with 25 participants, the analysis identifies three key strategies: (a) leveraging community efforts to build informal caregiving networks, (b) co-constructing caregiving practices through mutual teaching and experiential knowledge, and (c) adapting caregiving roles to address healthcare gaps under resource constraints. These strategies illustrate both the potential and the limitations of community-driven caregiving in contexts where formal support is needed. Participants redefined caregiving as a relational and adaptive process that integrates individual and collective efforts to navigate systemic barriers. Findings underscore the importance of community-based interventions that amplify local innovations and address the specific needs of underserved populations.