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work, family and sexual roles may be narrowly defined. Thus options for compensatory
role changes may be cultural background influences such as patients' attitudes towards
treatment, therapy use ofmodalities, treatment activities, work and education, or, cultural
values, for instance that they are being punished for something sinful by having a
disability. Such a patientmay be less motivated towards rehabilitation, as the patient is no
longer serving punishment for the sin committed by being rehabilitated. Sanchez
(1999:367) suggests that rehabilitation should be sensitive towards cultural differences
and attempt to understand the basic values and assumptions ofthe patient's culture. He
also suggests that the rehabilitation team therapy principles be adjusted to consider the
cultural orientation ofthe ethnic population.
2.5.2 RELIGION
Religious beliefs, taboos and traditions contnbute to a patients feelings about his role in
'the injury or illness, his 0\'