Rural South African mothers’ perspectives on strategies to mitigate cerebral palsy caregiving

Abstract

Background: Ample evidence suggests that primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy experience barriers relating to their caregiving role; however, these caregivers also reported encountering factors that facilitate their caregiving experience.

Objectives: This article aimed to explore factors that facilitate and support caregivers of children living with cerebral palsy in rural South Africa.

Method: An exploratory qualitative research design was employed. Purposive convenience and snowball sampling were used to select 10 primary caregivers of children living with cerebral palsy between the ages of 3 years and 18 years. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: This research identified several factors for facilitating and supporting caregivers of children living with cerebral palsy. These include social support, caregivers’ ability to understand and accept their children’s disability, mental health support and caregivers’ access to resources.

Conclusion: The study found that caregivers looking after children living with cerebral palsy in rural communities have access to certain support systems that aid their caregiving experiences; however, such systems of support need to be strengthened and sustained to reduce the burden of care.

Contribution: This article highlights the facilitators and supportive factors of caring for children living with cerebral palsy in rural communities of South Africa to inform stakeholders on possible intervention strategies for maternal mental health in the context of raising a child with limiting disabilities.