Pizzighello S, Uliana M, Martinuzzi M, Vascello MGF, Cipriani M, Breda M, De Polo G, Martinuzzi A. The perceived impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the children with cerebral palsy: the parents' perspective explored within the "6-F words" framework.
Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023;
17:24. [PMID:
36793119 PMCID:
PMC9930050 DOI:
10.1186/s13034-023-00569-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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