Leila Dehghan1, Asghar Dalvandi2, Mehdi Rassafiani3, Seyed Ali Hosseini4, Hamid Dalvand5, Sue Baptiste6. 1. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Nursing, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Occupational Therapy, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Occupational Therapy, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. 6. School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Social participation is increasingly of interest in research that investigates the impact of caring for a child with a disability. Little has been investigated about the social participation experiences of mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study explored social participation among Iranian mothers of children with CP. METHODS: The conventional qualitative content analysis method was utilised. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 mothers (aged 26-45 years) of children with CP with the gross motor function classification system expanded & revised levels III-V. Constant comparative analysis was deployed for data analysis. RESULTS: The results were identified and classified into three main themes: (i) polarisation of positive and negative feelings; (ii) challenges to mothers' social activity; and (iii) striving to engage in society. CONCLUSION: In the Iranian context, mothers of children with CP are facing many challenges to social participation and seem to have been neglected by the health-care system. One of the priorities of Iranian health policy makers may be developing, establishing and implementing social support to enable the mothers to participate in social activities. Furthermore, occupational therapists can contribute and guide mothers' social participation by creating programs to develop and utilise skills for them.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Social participation is increasingly of interest in research that investigates the impact of caring for a child with a disability. Little has been investigated about the social participation experiences of mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study explored social participation among Iranian mothers of children with CP. METHODS: The conventional qualitative content analysis method was utilised. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 mothers (aged 26-45 years) of children with CP with the gross motor function classification system expanded & revised levels III-V. Constant comparative analysis was deployed for data analysis. RESULTS: The results were identified and classified into three main themes: (i) polarisation of positive and negative feelings; (ii) challenges to mothers' social activity; and (iii) striving to engage in society. CONCLUSION: In the Iranian context, mothers of children with CP are facing many challenges to social participation and seem to have been neglected by the health-care system. One of the priorities of Iranian health policy makers may be developing, establishing and implementing social support to enable the mothers to participate in social activities. Furthermore, occupational therapists can contribute and guide mothers' social participation by creating programs to develop and utilise skills for them.