Knowledge of risk factors, symptoms and role of physiotherapy in cerebral palsy and obstetrics brachial plexus injury among pregnant women in Ibadan: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Pediatric neurological conditions most commonly managed by physiotherapists in Nigeria include cerebral palsy (CP) and obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI). Adequate knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and the role of physiotherapy in the management of these conditions, especially by mothers, may play a significant role in prevention, prognosis, and outcome of care. This study was, therefore, designed to investigate the level of knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and role of physiotherapy in CP and OBPI among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in antenatal clinics of six selected hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Two hundred and seventeen pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics across the selected hospitals were recruited. Information on the knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and role of physiotherapy in CP and OBPI was obtained from the participants. Descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, percentages, and frequency distribution were used to summarize the data. Inferential statistics of Kruska–Wallis was used to investigate differences. Results: Only 19.4%, 31.1%, and 47% had good knowledge of the risk factors, symptoms, and role of physiotherapy in OBPI, respectively. Similarly, only 34.6%, 33.2%, and 36.4% had a good knowledge of the risk factors, symptoms, and the role of physiotherapy, respectively, in the management of CP. Conclusion: This study concluded that there is a need to create better awareness of the risk factors, symptoms, and role of physiotherapy in the management of CP and OBPI, especially among pregnant women.