Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Letter
Case Report
Case Series
Commentary
Current Issue
Editorial
Erratum
Guest Editorial
Images
Images in Neurology
Images in Neuroscience
Images in Neurosciences
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letters to Editor
Letters to the Editor
Media and News
None
Notice of Retraction
Obituary
Original Article
Point of View
Position Paper
Review Article
Short Communication
Systematic Review
Systematic Review Article
Technical Note
Techniques in Neurosurgery
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Letter
Case Report
Case Series
Commentary
Current Issue
Editorial
Erratum
Guest Editorial
Images
Images in Neurology
Images in Neuroscience
Images in Neurosciences
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letters to Editor
Letters to the Editor
Media and News
None
Notice of Retraction
Obituary
Original Article
Point of View
Position Paper
Review Article
Short Communication
Systematic Review
Systematic Review Article
Technical Note
Techniques in Neurosurgery
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Letter
Case Report
Case Series
Commentary
Current Issue
Editorial
Erratum
Guest Editorial
Images
Images in Neurology
Images in Neuroscience
Images in Neurosciences
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letters to Editor
Letters to the Editor
Media and News
None
Notice of Retraction
Obituary
Original Article
Point of View
Position Paper
Review Article
Short Communication
Systematic Review
Systematic Review Article
Technical Note
Techniques in Neurosurgery
View/Download PDF

Translate this page into:

Original Article
4 (
2
); 159-163
doi:
10.4103/0976-3147.112752

Psychological impact of cerebral palsy on families: The African perspective

Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana
Department of Physiotherapy, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
Address for correspondence: Dr. Olajide A. Olawale Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos Lagos Nigeria jideolawale@yahoo.com
Licence
This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Disclaimer:
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Psychological stress associated with cerebral palsy (CP) is known to be one of the most depressing conditions of families. In the traditional African society, some peculiar factors may contribute to the stress. Aims: The aims of this study were to identify and describe, from the African perspective, the psychological impact of CP on families and determine the strategies adopted by families in coping with it. Settings and Design: The study was a cross‑sectional descriptive survey conducted in the Physiotherapy Department of a tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: Participants were 52 parents of children with CP. They completed a questionnaire designed to determine the degree of psychological stress on the families and strategies adopted to cope with the stress. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to show responses in graphical formats. Results: Respondents agreed that having adequate knowledge of CP would help them cope well with the demands of taking care of children with CP. 38.5% of respondents said that people in the society accused them of some wrongdoing that has made their children to have CP. Personal problems experienced include loss of job, lack of concentration at work, loss of family joy, and derangement of financial affairs of the family. 26 (50%) of them resort to religious/spiritual intervention as an alternative or complementary mode of treatment for their children while 28% resort to dependence on the extended family system for support. Conclusion: Families caring for children with CP generally have a positive attitude towards their children. However, there is need to educate the public on the causes of CP and treatment options available to families.

Keywords

Cerebral palsy
coping strategy
family
psychological stress

Conflict of Interest

None declared

References

  1. , , , , , , et al . The health and well-being of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. Pediatrics. 2005;115:e626-36.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. , , , . Being concerned: Caregiving for Taiwanese mothers of a child with cerebral palsy. J Clin Nurs. 2012;21:189-97.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. , , , , , , et al . The health of primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy: How does it compare with that of other Canadian caregivers? Pediatrics. 2004;114:e182-91.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. , , , , , , et al . Psychological problems in children with cerebral palsy: A cross-sectional European study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;49:405-13.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. , , , , . Depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy and related factors in Turkey: A controlled study. Int J Rehabil Res. 2009;32:199-204.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. , , , . Rehabilitation of the handicapped child-what about the caregiver? P N G Med J. 1995;38:208-14.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. , , , . Parenting stress among mothers of Malaysian children with cerebral palsy: Predictors of child- and parent-related stress. Ann Trop Paediatr. 1998;18:301-7.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. , , , , . Stress in parents of children with cerebral palsy: What sources of stress are we talking about? Child Care Health Dev. 2008;34:825-9.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. , , , , , . Parenting stress and children with cerebral palsy: A European cross-sectional survey. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2011;53:815-21.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. , , , . Psychological distress in mothers of disabled children. Am J Dis Child. 1982;136:682-6.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. , , , , , , et al . Overprotection and the psychological states of cerebral palsy patients and their caretakers in Hong Kong: A preliminary report. Hong Kong Med J. 2008;14:286-91.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. , , , , . Assessment of the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy (primary caregivers) Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2005;19:232-7.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. , , , . Perceived stress, perceived social support, and wellbeing among mothers of school-aged children with cerebral palsy. J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2006;31:53-7.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. , , , , . Parenting style impacts on quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. J Pediatr. 2007;151:56-60.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. , , , , , , et al . The development of a strength-focused mutual support group for caretakers of children with cerebral palsy. East Asian Arch Psychiatry. 2011;21:64-72.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. , , , . Family as a factor in cerebral palsy prevention. Coll Antropol. 2008;32:137-42.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. , , , , . The health of children with cerebral palsy and stress in their parents. J Adv Nurs. 2009;65:2311-23.
    [Google Scholar]

Fulltext Views
522

PDF downloads
174
View/Download PDF
Download Citations
BibTeX
RIS
Show Sections