TY - JOUR
T1 - “Between Strain and Perceptions,” The Voices of Family Caregivers Involved in the Care of Children with Cerebral Palsy
T2 - Evidence from a Ghanaian Low Socioeconomic Setting
AU - Adamu, Shafawu
AU - Senoo-Dogbey, Vivian Efua
AU - Anatsui, Prosper Junior
AU - Akpagloh, Monica Charlotte
AU - Wuaku, Delali Adwoa
AU - Anaba, Esther
AU - Asakia, Wilson Atara
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
PY - 2026/1/1
Y1 - 2026/1/1
N2 - Background: In rural Ghana, families caring for children with cerebral palsy face physical, emotional, and financial challenges, yet little context-specific evidence exists. This study explored the lived experiences of caregivers at Upper East Regional Hospital. Methods: Using a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory design under the ABC-X model, 15 purposively sampled caregivers of children ≤ 18 years with CP were interviewed. Data were analyzed via Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic approach. Results: Two main themes, perceptions and role challenges, with 8 sub-themes emerged. Caregivers’ understanding ranged from accurate knowledge (eg, prematurity, birth complications) to misconceptions. Caregiving imposed physical, financial, and social burdens. Cultural beliefs and stigma influenced care, prompting navigation between traditional and biomedical treatments. Conclusion: Caregivers face multidimensional burdens compounded by limited knowledge and stigma. Interventions should include CP education, psychosocial support, stigma reduction, and strengthened biomedical and community-based services to improve caregiver and child well-being.
AB - Background: In rural Ghana, families caring for children with cerebral palsy face physical, emotional, and financial challenges, yet little context-specific evidence exists. This study explored the lived experiences of caregivers at Upper East Regional Hospital. Methods: Using a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory design under the ABC-X model, 15 purposively sampled caregivers of children ≤ 18 years with CP were interviewed. Data were analyzed via Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic approach. Results: Two main themes, perceptions and role challenges, with 8 sub-themes emerged. Caregivers’ understanding ranged from accurate knowledge (eg, prematurity, birth complications) to misconceptions. Caregiving imposed physical, financial, and social burdens. Cultural beliefs and stigma influenced care, prompting navigation between traditional and biomedical treatments. Conclusion: Caregivers face multidimensional burdens compounded by limited knowledge and stigma. Interventions should include CP education, psychosocial support, stigma reduction, and strengthened biomedical and community-based services to improve caregiver and child well-being.
KW - caregiver burden
KW - caregivers
KW - cerebral palsy
KW - lived experiences
KW - perceptions
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036688124
U2 - 10.1177/30502225261441988
DO - 10.1177/30502225261441988
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105036688124
SN - 2333-794X
VL - 13
JO - Global Pediatric Health
JF - Global Pediatric Health
ER -