Economic Challenges Faced by Families of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Developmental Social Work Perspective

Abstract

Mokhotlong is one of Lesotho’s districts with considerable hard-to-reach areas, constrained access to healthcare and minimal employment opportunities. Possibilities for developmental social work in childhood disability issues are empirically under-explored. The objective of this study was therefore to examine economic challenges faced by families of children with cerebral palsy in Mokhotlong Lesotho from a developmental social work perspective. This qualitative study collected data using unstructured in-depth face-to-face interviews from a snowball sample of 12 carers of children with cerebral palsy and two key informants. It subsequently analysed the data though thematic content analysis. Carers of children with cerebral palsy, most of whom were responsible for entire families’ economic wellbeing, forwent employment opportunities on account of care responsibilities and faced difficulty securing childcare. Carers also paid up to M450 (US$26.47) a month in transport fare to access healthcare. Families represented in the study also reportedly incurred debt beyond their apparent means. The study hence recommends disability-specificity of Lesotho’s disability grant as well as a developmental social work approach to promote economic self-reliance of carers of children with cerebral palsy and Mokhotlong as a whole.