Delivering physiotherapy services in developing countries for children with cerebral palsy: An example from North Uganda

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to test the feasibility of a mixed outpatient/home physiotherapy programme on a sample of children with cerebral palsy screened at St. Mary's Hospital Lacor in Gulu, Uganda from January to December 2017. Methods: Improvement in motor function was investigated using the Gross Motor Function Measure 66-item version (GMFM-66, range: 0 to 100, the higher the score, the better the condition). Physiotherapy treatment and home exercise training for the caregivers of children were carried out at baseline and then every 2 weeks for 3 months to follow. Changes in GMFM-66 score were collected in week six and twelve. Results: Patients who attended at least one of these visits were analysed. Fifty-five children aged 0.5-12 years were enrolled, 67% (37/55) were lost at follow-ups. The eighteen participating children throughout the programme scored a median GMFM-66 score of 13.5 at baseline, 16.0 in week six, and 19.7 in week twelve (P = 0.02). Conclusions: This programme can lead to clinical improvement. Feasibility, however, depends on the accessibility of physiotherapy services and on community-based interventions.