Experiences of Navigating Recovery After Stroke in Tanzania: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability globally, with increasing prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. Little is known about how Tanzanian survivors navigate recovery within their social and healthcare environments. This study aimed to explore stroke survivors' lived experiences of barriers to accessing and utilizing poststroke management services at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania. Methods: A qualitative study using an interpretive descriptive approach was conducted among stroke survivors attending follow-up care at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania. A homogeneous purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit participants who shared key characteristics relevant to the study. The sample comprised 20 stroke survivors, including 8 males and 12 females. In-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning across participants' experiences. Results: Four interrelated themes captured survivors' experiences: (1) living with financial uncertainty, where costs of care and prescribed diets created practical and emotional barriers; (2) making sense of care amid constraints, reflecting adaptive decision-making and reliance on personal beliefs or home remedies; (3) negotiating healthcare relationships, highlighting family support and the importance of ongoing communication with providers and (4) enduring the healthcare system, where long waiting times, administrative hurdles, frequent provider changes and conditional access disrupted continuity of care. Conclusion: Stroke recovery in Tanzania extends beyond clinical treatment, which is shaped by intertwined socioeconomic, relational and health system influences. Strengthening discharge planning, enhancing continuity of professional support, integrating family-centred rehabilitation and leveraging mobile health technologies may improve equitable engagement with stroke care in resource-constrained settings.