Open AccessThe perceptions of parents and caregivers on the causes of disabilities in children with cerebral palsy: A qualitative investigation
Author(s) -
Margaret M. Mweshi,
Ratie Mpofu
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
south african journal of physiotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.166
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2410-8219
pISSN - 0379-6175
DOI - 10.4102/sajp.v57i2.502
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , perception , qualitative research , multidisciplinary approach , psychology , medicine , rehabilitation , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , physical therapy , sociology , social science , neuroscience
The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of parents and caregivers on the causes of disabilities in children with cerebral palsy in selected areas of the Cape Metropolitan. A qualitative research design was chosen for the investigation. Data collection was by semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the range of variation in the beliefs of the parents and caregivers concerning the cause of the child’s disability and the stigma attached was quite considerable. However, the majority of the informants hardly knew the causes of disabilities while only a few informants seemed to have known. It is recommended that health professionals who work with families directly could play a major role in preventing unnecessary stressful situations by providing adequate information about the child’s condition in terms of aetiology and the likely prognosis. Helping and working with such families require a multidisciplinary effort, effective communication among families and professionals, and knowledge of community resources.