Extra-Institutional Factors Limiting Access to Rehabilitation Services for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Perspectives of Caregivers in Marsabit County, Kenya

Authors

  • Hilary Kibele Harawo Moyale Sub-county Referral Hospital
  • Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47985/dcidj.513

Keywords:

Caregivers, cerebral palsy, rehabilitation services, children with cerebral palsy, utilization

Abstract

Purpose: This paper explored the factors limiting access to and use of hospital-based rehabilitation services for children with cerebral palsy in Marsabit County, Kenya. The factors were unrelated to healthcare institutions providing the services and the focus was on the perspectives of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy.

Method: A qualitative study was conducted with a total of 18 participants who were selected by purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the participants. Data was analysed using Erlingsson and Brysiewicz’s approach to content analysis.

Results: The major barriers for the caregivers were belief systems, lack of awareness of rehabilitation services, no support at home, transport problems, and cost of transport.

Conclusion and Implications: Access to rehabilitation services for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy appear to be limited. Health policymakers, service providers and other stakeholders should ramp up their efforts to improve access to these services and make them affordable as well. Efforts at improving access could be supported by information and awareness-creation among caregivers about the importance of rehabilitation services for children with cerebral palsy.

Author Biographies

Hilary Kibele Harawo, Moyale Sub-county Referral Hospital

Hilary Harawo is a Physiotherapist in the Rehabilitation Department of Moyale Sub-county Referral Hospital, Kenya. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Science in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation from University of Medical Sciences of Granma, Cuba, and M. Phil. (Disability Studies and Rehabilitation) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.  His areas of interests are disability and rehabilitation, empowerment and advocacy of persons with disabilities, especially of children with disabilities, geriatric and deaf persons.

Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Dr. Wisdom Mprah teaches at the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

He holds two degrees from University of Cape Coast, Ghana and has a Ph.D. in Disability Studies from University of Illinois. He is currently a Lecturer at the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

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Published

2022-02-01

How to Cite

1.
Harawo HK, Mprah WK. Extra-Institutional Factors Limiting Access to Rehabilitation Services for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Perspectives of Caregivers in Marsabit County, Kenya. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2022 Feb. 1 [cited 2024 Sep. 8];32(4):98-113. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/513

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 4: Winter 2021

Section

Original Research Articles

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