Participation of mothers in the treatment of the children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

The children with cerebral palsy suffer with the consequences of the injury to the brain presenting difficulties that affect the activities of daily life. Such pathology also reflects in the behavior of the involved family. This family must receive support from the professionals to face the problem. The study aims to investigate how the mothers participate in the treatment of her children, as well as the possible doubts they have concerning home care. It’s a descriptive study with qualitative approach carried out on June 2008 at the Nucleus of Treatment and Precocious Stimulation. 12 mothers of children with cerebral palsy were interviewed, by means of a semi-structured script. We perceive that these mothers possess an incipient participation in the treatment of the children, limiting themselves it the escort and being dependent of professional explanation. It is suggested the necessity that strategies of confrontation of parents and professionals are adopted. Such measure is required as a supply of explanations about the pathology and as a greater participation of the parents in the treatment and domiciliary visits.