Research on needs of families raising children with cerebral palsy

On 30 August at 15:00 in an open session of Rīga Stradiņš University Medical Promotion Council (Conference Hall of the Medical Education Technology Centre, 26a Anniņmuižas bulvāris, Rīga) Ms Dace Bērtule will defend her thesis titled “Needs of Families with Children with Cerebral Palsy and Factors Affecting these Needs”.

In the dissertation the needs of families raising preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy in Latvia were researched. 

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability among children, with a potentially negative impact on the quality of life and involvement in the community not only for the child but also for the whole family. This is the only study in Latvia on the needs of families raising children with cerebral palsy applying the systems approach.

The aim of the study is to identify and describe the needs of families raising preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy and explore how these needs relate to the factors characterising families, children and rehabilitation services. The following objectives were put forward:

• to identify the specific needs of preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy;
• to assess and analyse the correlation between these needs and the demographic and socio-economic situation of the family, as well as factors characterising these children and rehabilitation services;  
• to evaluate the impact of these factors on the needs of families raising preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy.

The study reveals that families residing in Latvia are of the opinion that they lack information about matters that are important to the family (services available for children and education opportunities), these families find the provision of rehabilitation services and their coordination insufficient. Moreover, government funding allocated for treatment and rehabilitation is insufficient, and some families lack psychological and moral support.

The overall needs of families residing in Latvia and raising preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy are best explained by the support provided by family members, whereas, needs for healthcare services – by the child’s social skills and communication limitations, and financial needs – by family income and the child’s mobility limitations. 

To sum up, the study revealed that the most significant factors affecting the needs of families residing in Latvia are associated with the socio-economic situation, as well as support provided by peers and professionals. Whereas, the availability of rehabilitation services and the process for accessing such services, as well as the child’s functional limitations and health disorders are less important.