Abstract:Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was effective all over the world. The stay-athome period was proposed to protect against the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home period on body structures and functions, activity and participation levels, and environmental factors of children with cerebral palsy (CP) from the parental perspective in Turkey.
Methods. A twenty-question survey, using the International Classification of Fu… Show more
“…Concerning the children’s abilities (motor, speech, manual and behavior) the Covid impairment score reached higher levels in children with more extended motor impairment (quadriplegia), thus suggesting that these patients could be more affected by the interruption of health services. This is in accordance with Biyik [ 12 ] who found that children scoring Gross Motor Functioning Classification Scale (GMFCS) [ 19 ] levels IV and V (children with limited self mobility or transported in a manual wheelchair) presented increased tonus and a decreased range of motion. Moreover, Akpinar [ 8 ] observed that parents of children with higher levels of GMFCS claimed greater levels of anxiety.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 90%
“…The level of activity, participation and environmental factors influenced the impact of the pandemic on body functioning in children with CP [ 12 ]. Similarly, Lai [ 13 ] found that Covid-19 reduced interactions, exercise participation and interesting in doing things.…”
Background
In 2020 the world faced the spread of the coronavirus infection disease (Covid-19). This was a general public health emergency but many people with disabilities might have been particularly affected.
Objective
This paper aims to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and their families.
Methods
110 parents of children with CP (aged 2 to 19) who completed a questionnaire were included. These children were under the care of one of the Italian Children Rehabilitation Centers. Socio-demographic and clinical information about patients and their families were collected. In addition, difficulties on adopting protective measures and in respecting lockdown rules by children were explored. We adopted the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) framework to create multiple choice questions. Descriptive statistics were reported and logistic regression analyses were run in order to identify the predictors of perceived impairment in motor, speech, manual and behavioral abilities.
Results
Daily activities of children, as well as rehabilitation and fitness sessions, underwent a change during the pandemic. Spending more time with family due to lockdown measures, has had, in some cases a positive effect however there was a perceived decrease in rehabilitation support and school activities. The age range (between 7 and 12 years) and difficulty in respecting rules emerged as significant predictors of the perceived impairment due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Conclusions
The pandemic has had different impacts on children and their families on the basis of children’s characteristics. Rehabilitation activities during a hypothetic lockdown should consider these characteristics.
“…Concerning the children’s abilities (motor, speech, manual and behavior) the Covid impairment score reached higher levels in children with more extended motor impairment (quadriplegia), thus suggesting that these patients could be more affected by the interruption of health services. This is in accordance with Biyik [ 12 ] who found that children scoring Gross Motor Functioning Classification Scale (GMFCS) [ 19 ] levels IV and V (children with limited self mobility or transported in a manual wheelchair) presented increased tonus and a decreased range of motion. Moreover, Akpinar [ 8 ] observed that parents of children with higher levels of GMFCS claimed greater levels of anxiety.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 90%
“…The level of activity, participation and environmental factors influenced the impact of the pandemic on body functioning in children with CP [ 12 ]. Similarly, Lai [ 13 ] found that Covid-19 reduced interactions, exercise participation and interesting in doing things.…”
Background
In 2020 the world faced the spread of the coronavirus infection disease (Covid-19). This was a general public health emergency but many people with disabilities might have been particularly affected.
Objective
This paper aims to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and their families.
Methods
110 parents of children with CP (aged 2 to 19) who completed a questionnaire were included. These children were under the care of one of the Italian Children Rehabilitation Centers. Socio-demographic and clinical information about patients and their families were collected. In addition, difficulties on adopting protective measures and in respecting lockdown rules by children were explored. We adopted the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) framework to create multiple choice questions. Descriptive statistics were reported and logistic regression analyses were run in order to identify the predictors of perceived impairment in motor, speech, manual and behavioral abilities.
Results
Daily activities of children, as well as rehabilitation and fitness sessions, underwent a change during the pandemic. Spending more time with family due to lockdown measures, has had, in some cases a positive effect however there was a perceived decrease in rehabilitation support and school activities. The age range (between 7 and 12 years) and difficulty in respecting rules emerged as significant predictors of the perceived impairment due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Conclusions
The pandemic has had different impacts on children and their families on the basis of children’s characteristics. Rehabilitation activities during a hypothetic lockdown should consider these characteristics.
“…A similar study by Kübra Seyhan Bıyık et.al reported that 75% of children had upper extremity impairment, and 73% of children had lower extremity impairment. They found that they increase muscle tone(adductor muscles, hamstrings) and restricted joints in non-walking children (GMFCS level IV and V) than walking children (GMFCS level I, II, and III) [ 15 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The negative effects of lockdown on children’s mental health, wellbeing, and social health (morale, behavior, social interaction, and physical activity) were highlighted in a French survey study [ 15 ]. 44.6% of children reported behavior changing in stay home periods.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This was expressed as an increase in irritability, anger issues, and even aggression in 46 (45.5%) children. French study concluded that in total, 55% of children showed behavior changes, mostly behavioral problems (32%) and sleeping difficulties (22%) [ 15 ]. A study reported social function and communication (51.1%), and mood (55.4%) were worse during the pandemic compared before [ 13 ].…”
Background
The COVID pandemic has been raging across the world for the past 18 months and has severely impacted healthcare and resources. Children with special needs have been adversely affected by the COVID pandemic, due to lack of formal schooling, access to rehabilitation and limited physical and social activity. The aim of this online survey was to understand the effect of the pandemic on the children with Cerebral Palsy (CP).
Methods
An online survey was conducted using a nine parts questionnaire comprising 26 questions. Survey included questions pertaining to demographic data, ambulatory status, lack of access to physiotherapy, orthotic adjustment, surgery, deterioration of function, and behaviour. A simple binary answer was sought to cover all social strata of society.
Results
Responses were received from 101 caregivers who participated in an online questionnaire. 25.7% had no therapy sessions, 74.2% were on therapy of which 23.7% had online sessions. The lockdown restrictions coupled with lack of rehabilitation and orthotic support led to deterioration in physical function in 54 children and worsening of deformity in 34. Changes in behavioural pattern was observed in 45 children.
Conclusion
The survey revealed major disruptions in the care of Children with CP. The parents reported difficulties in managing the child therapy at home. There is always a possibility that the pandemic will result in a lockdown again, and hence our approach toward physical therapy assessment and rehabilitation needs to be towards home-based and family-centred care.
Purpose of Review
This paper reviews the empirical literature on exposures to disaster or terrorism and their impacts on the health and well-being of children with disabilities and their families since the last published update in 2017. We also review the literature on studies examining the mental health and functioning of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent Findings
Few studies have examined the effects of disaster or terrorism on children with disabilities. Research shows that children with disabilities and their families have higher levels of disaster exposure, lower levels of disaster preparedness, and less recovery support due to longstanding discriminatory practices. Similarly, many reports of the COVID-19 pandemic have documented its negative and disproportionate impacts on children with disabilities and their families.
Summary
In the setting of climate change, environmental disasters are expected to increase in frequency and severity. Future studies identifying mitigating factors to disasters, including COVID-19; increasing preparedness on an individual, community, and global level; and evaluating post-disaster trauma-informed treatment practices are imperative to support the health and well-being of children with disabilities and their families.
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