The mental health of maternal caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in rural, low-income parts of Southern Africa

Abstract

Maternal primary caregivers of children living with cerebral palsy (CP) bear a significant burden that has the potential to impact their mental health. There is a paucity of research on the mental health of maternal caregivers of children with CP in rural areas of Southern Africa, highlighting the need for further exploration in this area. Specifically, there is a need to explore the multifaceted factors that influence the mental health of maternal primary caregivers of children with CP living in rural, low-income areas. The paper aimed to identify the various factors that influence the mental health of maternal primary caregivers of children living with CP who reside in rural, low-income areas of Southern Africa. Additionally, the paper sought to enhance the understanding of healthcare practitioners and stakeholders engaged in the care and support of these maternal primary caregivers and their children living with CP, therefore increasing awareness of this issue. This is a theoretical paper discussing the existing literature on the mental health of maternal caregivers of children living with CP in Southern Africa. The review was conducted by searching for published and grey literature in Google Scholar, PubMed, and EBSCOhost. The mental health of such caregivers is influenced by several factors, including the economic situation, physical demands, environmental conditions, insufficient information, experiences of stigma and marginalisation, interpersonal relationships, and emotional challenges. The social-ecological model is used to make sense of these factors in the mental health of maternal primary caregivers of children living with CP.

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Ngokwana, R. & Clare, H. (2024). The mental health of maternal caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in rural, low-income parts of Southern Africa. African Journal of Social Work, 14(4), 217-224. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v14i4.5

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