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Health beliefs regarding pediatric cerebral palsy among caregivers in Botswana: A qualitative study
Author(s) -
Patel P.,
Baier J.,
Baranov E.,
Khurana E.,
GambrahSampaney C.,
Johnson A.,
Monokwane B.,
Bearden D. R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/cch.12490
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , psychological intervention , qualitative research , medicine , stigma (botany) , health care , psychology , nursing , family medicine , psychiatry , social science , sociology , economics , economic growth
Background Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability worldwide with an incidence of 2.5 per 1,000 births globally. Health beliefs among caregivers may be major drivers of health‐related behaviours and service utilization, but little is known regarding health beliefs around CP in Africa. Methods Between July 2013 and September 2015, children with CP were identified in Gaborone, Botswana, and their caregivers were invited to participate in a qualitative study utilizing semistructured in‐person one‐on‐one interviews. Interview questions addressed their understanding of CP, challenges of caring for a handicapped child, and community response to children with CP. Results Sixty‐two caregivers participated in the study. Common themes elicited were variable knowledge about CP, financial and physical burden, lack of therapies and educational resources, and the impact of stigma. Caregivers in Botswana generally subscribed to a biomedical explanation of CP but expressed concerns regarding more stigmatizing folks beliefs expressed in the community. Conclusion Health beliefs regarding CP in Botswana likely have a significant impact on utilization of healthcare resources. Information from this study should inform future educational interventions for caregivers of children with CP.