Peer-reviewed article
Assistive device usage among children living with cerebral palsy: parents’ knowledge and perspective on its availability and usage at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ghana
Comfort Ama Osei, Richard Kwaku Bawah, James Nii Amar Aryiku, Felix Obuobi-Darko, Crescensia Baarkoh et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This qualitative study interviewed parents of children with cerebral palsy at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in Ghana. It asked what parents know about assistive devices, how their children use them, and how easy the devices are to get. Parents mostly knew about mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers. Some were satisfied with the benefits, while others were unhappy with the limited range and lack of advanced technology. Parents reported barriers including limited availability, complex acquisition processes, delays and high costs.
Key points
- Parents showed basic knowledge of assistive devices, mainly wheelchairs and walkers.
- Some parents were satisfied with the benefits of the devices, while others were dissatisfied with the limited range and lack of advanced technologies.
- Barriers to access included limited availability, complex acquisition processes, delays in obtaining devices, and high costs.
- Access is limited both by availability and by a mismatch between children's functional needs and the type, affordability and accessibility of devices.
Limitations
The abstract does not give the number of parents interviewed, and the findings come from one hospital with purposively selected parents, so they cannot be generalised. It reports parents' views only, not children's own views or measured outcomes of device use.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Assistive devices can benefit a wide range of people, including those living with disabilities; those affected by severe forms of disease or trauma; and those requiring rehabilitation. Access to these devices is limited in low- and middle-income countries. PURPOSE: The study explored parents' perspectives on the availability and use of assistive devices among children with cerebral palsy at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in Ghana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An explorative qualitative research design was employed, with purposive sampling used in recruiting parents of children with cerebral palsy. Data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged: (1) parents' knowledge and understanding of assistive devices, (2) parents' experiences of children's usage of assistive devices, and (3) availability and accessibility of assistive devices for children with cerebral palsy. Participants demonstrated basic knowledge of assistive devices, mainly identifying mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers. While some expressed satisfaction with the benefits of these devices, others were dissatisfied with the limited range and lack of advanced technologies. Significant barriers to access were identified, including limited availability, complex acquisition processes, delays in obtaining devices, and high costs. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that, among children with cerebral palsy, access to assistive devices is constrained not only by the availability of the devices but also by a mismatch between children's individual functional needs and the type, affordability, and accessibility.