LIVED EXPERIENCE OF CAREGIVERS HAVING CEREBRAL PALSY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY - EGYPT

Abstract Background: School age children with cerebral palsy (CP) rely on caregivers for their daily needs, leading to stress as they seek interventions and support to improve their abilities. Caregivers must provide complete primary caregiving, including feeding, locomotion, bathing, managing seizures, and carrying the child to medical reviews Aim: To explore the lived experience of caregivers having Cerebral Palsy School Age Children Design: A qualitative research design was used. Setting: The study was conducted at the national institute of neuromotor system in 1 El-tayarFekrystreet. Kornish El-nail-Imbaba-Giza. Sample: a purposive sample of 12 caregivers having children with CP was selected. Tools for Data Collection: Two tools were used First tool: Demographic characteristics of Caregivers with their cerebral palsy school age children structured questionnaire:-It was developed by the researcher. It included 2 parts:-Part one: - Demographic data of caregivers. Part two: - Demographic data of cerebral palsy child & Second tool: - Caregivers of school age children semi-structured interview guide. Results: The current study identifies eight major themes in exploring experience of caregivers quality of life who had Cerebral Palsy children:- (I) Support people & Culture norms, (II) Fulfillment of needs, (III) Realization of life potential, (IV) Biological order, (V) well-being, (VI) Life satisfaction,(VII) Happiness, & (VIII )Meaning in life . The major themes classified into Sixty sub-themes .The major and sub themes are based on quality of life (QOL) scale. Recommendations: Based on data analysis of major and sub themes recommendation of the current study is the caregivers needed to support from family members to help and assist them while caring of children with CP.