Barriers Facing by Parents During Clubfoot Treatment of Children with Clubfoot Deformity

Abstract

Background: One out of 750 children born inthe world suffers from club foot and among them 80% was in low and middle incomecountries. Most of these babies had limited access to receive effectivetreatment for their clubfoot. While receiving treatment, their parents werefacing several problems and barriers to complete the treatment regime. Althoughthe majority of clubfoot babies were in developing countries but we actuallydidn’t know how much are dropping from treatment and its actual reason, whichmay cause severe disability as a consequence. The purpose of this study was toinvestigate barriers facing by parents who have children with clubfoot duringclubfoot treatment. Methods: This cross sectional study wasconducted among 102 parents who had children with clubfoot deformity during itstreatment in selected clinics. The samples were selected purposively from theclinics where clubfoot treatment was given and face to face interview was doneby using semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The mean(±SD) age of the respondents was 24.7 (±6.0) years where 87.3% respondents werefemale and 59.8 % respondent’s educational status was up to primary level. About44.1% respondents started treatment of their child within 6 months of birth and33% within 6 to 12 months where 57% respondents were referred by health careprofessional to clinics. About 69.6 % respondents agreed with prolong treatmentregime and about 83.4% respondents reported about prolong waiting time where93.1% were motivated to completion the treatment. On the other hand about 89.3%respondents were able to understand the clinician’s information correctly. About61% respondents told about financial problems where 92.2% respondent’s mainearning members were paying treatment cost. Additionally 18% respondents hadtransport problem and about 78% had to come in the clinic for treatment frommore than 11 km away. Conclusion: There is need to improvethe communication skills of clinicians offering treatment to children withclubfoot at the Clinics. Need to minimize cost and develop patient friendlyservice so that parents get service within short possible time. Finally, thereis need to decentralize clubfoot treatment services away from referral hospitalsto the people in the community through outreach programs.