Background Cerebral Palsy (CP) refers to the permanent disorders involving postural and movement control as a result of injury to the developing brain. As a result of impairment in postural and movement control, children with CP usually have problems in carrying out activities of daily living (ADL). This makes them dependent on help from their caregivers. Thus, for effective rehabilitation of children with CP, active participation of their caregivers is important. This study seeks to explore the facilitators and barriers of active participation of caregivers in the rehabilitation of children with CP in Kano, Nigeria. Methods The study design used was qualitative in-depth interview. The participants were caregivers of children with CP at Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Specialists Hospital, Kano. The caregivers were interviewed face-to-face, and their responses were audio-recorded with a tape recorder, supplemented with note taking. The data generated was analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Results Forty young caregivers (mean age, 27.17 ± 4.46 years) participated in the study. They expressed encouragement from the therapist managing the child, family support, empathy, improvement in the conditions of other children with CP, cooperation of the child during home programs family support and improvement in the child’s condition as factors that facilitate their active participation in the rehabilitation of the children. However, they mentioned occupation, financial resources and the number of children the caregiver has are the barriers to their active participation in the rehabilitation of the children. Conclusions Both the facilitators and barriers of active participation of caregivers in the rehabilitation of children with CP need to be recognized in order to help caregivers reinforce or overcome them respectively. In addition, economically sustainable and accessible rehabilitation services are needed for all children with CP. Similarly, sharing caregiving rehabilitation tasks amongst family members could facilitate caregiver active participation.

Background: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture, attributed to non-progressive disturbance that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The condition results in long-term disability in carrying out activities of daily living (ADL). Thus, active participation of caregivers in the rehabilitation of their children with CP is required. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the facilitators and barriers of active participation of caregivers in the rehabilitation of children with CP in Kano, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study design used was qualitative in-depth interview. The participants consisted of caregivers of children with CP attending Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Specialists Hospital, Kano. The caregivers were sampled and interviewed by one of the researchers until theoretical saturation was attained. Responses of the participants were audio-recorded with a tape recorder, supplemented with note taking. The data generated from the interview was then transcribed, coded and analyzed using matrix analysis, using constant comparative analysis. Results: Forty caregivers with mean age, 27.17±4.46 years participated in the study. The results of the study showed factors that facilitate active participation of caregivers of children with CP in the rehabilitation of their children are improvement in the child’s condition, family support, improvement in the conditions of other children with CP, encouragement from the therapist managing the child, empathy, and cooperation of the child during home programs. The barriers identified are number of children the caregiver has, caregiver’s occupation and financial resources. Conclusion: Therapists need to help reinforce these facilitators, and devise strategies to help caregivers overcome barriers during rehabilitation of children with CP. Economically sustainable and accessible rehabilitation services are needed for all children with CP. Similarly, sharing caregiving rehabilitation tasks amongst family members could facilitate caregiver active participation.

Background Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture, attributed to non-progressive disturbance that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The condition results in long term disability in carrying out activities of daily living (ADL). Thus, it most times required active participation of the caregivers of the children affected in their rehabilitation. The aim of the study is to explore the facilitators and barriers of active participation of caregivers in the rehabilitation of these children. Materials and Methods The study design used was qualitative interview. The participants consisted of caregivers of children with CP attending Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Specialists Hospital, Kano. The caregivers were sampled and interviewed by one of the researchers until theoretical saturation was attained. A note taker wrote down and recorded responses of the participants using a tape recorder. The data generated from the interview was then transcribed, coded and analyzed using matrix analysis using constant comparative analysis. Results Forty caregivers with mean age, 27 years participated in the study. The results of the study showed that, the facilitators are improvement in the child’s condition, family support, improvement in the conditions of other children with CP, encouragement from the therapist managing the child, empathy, and cooperation of the child during home programs. The barriers are number of children the caregiver has, caregiver’s occupation and financial resources. Conclusion Therapists need to help reinforce these facilitators, and devise strategies to help caregivers overcome barriers during rehabilitation of children with CP.

Background : Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture, attributed to non-progressive disturbance that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The condition results in long term disability in carrying out activities of daily living (ADL). Thus, it most times required active participation of the caregivers of the children affected in their rehabilitation. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the facilitators and barriers of active participation of caregivers in the rehabilitation of these children. Materials and Methods: The study design used was qualitative indepth interview. The participants consisted of caregivers of children with CP attending Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Specialists Hospital, Kano. The caregivers were sampled and interviewed by one of the researchers until theoretical saturation was attained. A note taker wrote down and recorded responses of the participants using a tape recorder. The data generated from the interview was then transcribed, coded and analyzed using matrix analysis using constant comparative analysis. Results: Forty caregivers with mean age, 27.17±4.46 years participated in the study. The results of the study showed that, the factors that facilitate active participation of caregivers of children with CP in the rehabilitation of their children are improvement in the child’s condition, family support, improvement in the conditions of other children with CP, encouragement from the therapist managing the child, empathy, and cooperation of the child during home programs. The barriers are number of children the caregiver has, caregiver’s occupation and financial resources. Conclusion: Therapists need to help reinforce these facilitators, and devise strategies to help caregivers overcome barriers during rehabilitation of children with CP. For example, since lack of finance is one of the barriers to the caregivers’ active participation in the rehabilitation of their children, there should be a policy on CP rehabilitation that will make rehabilitation services accessible to all children with CP. Similarly, since family support is a facilitator, sharing caregiving rehabilitation tasks among member of the family could help facilitate caregiver activation participation in the rehabilitation of their children with CP.