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. 2023 Jul 29;10(8):1313.
doi: 10.3390/children10081313.

Family Needs Assessment of Patients with Cerebral Palsy Attending Two Hospitals in Accra, Ghana

Abena K Aduful  1 , Faye Boamah-Mensah  2 , Mame Yaa Nyarko  2 , Margaret L Neizer  2 , Yvonne N Brew  3 , Lovia A Williams  4 , Benedict N L Calys-Tagoe  5 , Henry K M Ackun  6 , Edem M A Tette  2   5
Affiliations

Family Needs Assessment of Patients with Cerebral Palsy Attending Two Hospitals in Accra, Ghana

Abena K Aduful et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: The family represents the most essential and supportive environment for children with cerebral palsy (CP). To improve children's outcomes, it is crucial to consider the needs of families in order to offer family-centered care, which tailors services to these needs.

Objective: We conducted a needs assessment to identify the family needs of patients with CP attending two hospitals in Accra.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study involving primary caregivers of children with CP attending neurodevelopmental clinics. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data spanning an 8-month period. The data were summarized, and statistical inference was made.

Results: Service needs identified were childcare, counseling, support groups, financial assistance, and recreational facilities. Information needs included adult education, job training/employment opportunities, education, health and social programs, knowledge about child development, and management of behavioral and feeding/nutrition problems. Reducing extensive travel time was desirable to improve access to healthcare. With the increasing severity of symptoms came the need for improved accessibility in the home to reduce the child's hardship, as well as assistive devices, recreational facilities, and respite for the caregiver(s).

Conclusion: Families of children with CP have information, service, and access needs related to their disease severity and family context.

Keywords: accessibility; assistive devices; caregivers; cerebral palsy (CP); children; developmental disorder; disability; family needs; family-centered care; healthcare.

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Conflict of interest statement

The study was funded by the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, Ghana Health Service, as part of its plans to audit and improve services for children with developmental conditions. Authors A.K.A., E.M.A.T., L.A.W., F.B.-M., M.L.N., and M.Y.N. work at or are affiliated with Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, of which M.Y.N. is the head. Y.N.B. works at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, the other study site. All the authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Model for assessing family needs in family-centered care.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Service needs of the families of children with cerebral palsy reported by caregivers (n = 120).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Information needs of the families of children with cerebral palsy reported by caregivers (n = 120).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Obstacles hindering access to healthcare reported by caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (n = 120).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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