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Kinnear, Lexington

Introduction: Pediatric cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common causes of childhood physical disability in low- and middle-income countries, especially Uganda. Access to adequate infrastructure and material and human resources necessary for surgical and rehabilitation treatment in Uganda is limited and, consequently, places a significant burden on patients and health systems in Uganda. This pilot project studied the patient-related and institutional barriers to pediatric CP treatment in Uganda from the perspective of healthcare workers. Methods: An anonymous and voluntary mixed-methods survey was designed in collaboration with local healthcare professionals to describe the barriers to surgical and rehabilitation services for pediatric CP patients in Uganda. This pilot project was conducted at the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services in Uganda (CoRSU) Hospital in Kisubi, Uganda. Participants completed a survey comprised of agreement statements evaluated using a Likert-derived 5-point scale and open-ended questions to elucidate their perspectives on the barriers limiting access to pediatric CP treatment in Uganda. Results: Patients and their caregivers are primarily responsible for the costs associated with surgical, rehabilitation, and diagnostic services, as well as medication, for children with cerebral palsy. Consequently, financial status is the greatest burden to accessing care and influences a patient’s health management compliance. Other barriers to accessing pediatric cerebral palsy treatment include transportation, material resources, caregiver’s additional responsibilities, societal barriers, and lack of awareness. Recommendations to improve access to pediatric cerebral palsy treatment are made based on the survey responses. Conclusion: This pilot study provides insight into the systemic and individual-level barriers to pediatric CP treatment in Uganda from the perspective of healthcare workers. The findings demonstrate that systemic healthcare barriers in Uganda, compounded by patient-related factors, perpetuate the high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates of pediatric CP in Uganda. Future clinical and policy interventions can use these findings to reduce and eliminate such barriers to accessing pediatric CP care in Uganda.

Text

University of British Columbia. SURG 560

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0431429

Medicine, Faculty of

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/