Performance Of The Cerebral Palsy Society Of Kenya (Cpsk) In Rehabilitation Of Children With Cerebral Palsy In Kenya

ABSTRACT

The researcher carried out an evaluative study of the Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya (CPSK) with focus on its performance in rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Kenya. The study was aimed at determining the rehabilitation services provided and the human and material resources available at CPSK, the achievements of the society and challenges faced. It also aimed at gathering views of the members on ways of enhancing rehabilitation services. The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons behind the failure of CPSK to extend rehabilitation services to other parts of Kenya outside Nairobi Province and raise recommendations for enhancing rehabilitation of children with CP. This study was based on the “Goal Setting and Task Performance Theory” of A. Locke and Gary P. Lathams (1968) on organizational behaviour. The researcher reviewed related literature on rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in Finland, Japan, Thailand, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. Descriptive case design was used in the study. The study was done at the CPSK premises in Nairobi. The diagnostic approach used in this descriptive case design enabled the researcher to investigate in detail the performance of CPSK and the factors influencing the society‟s rehabilitation programmes. The study targeted a population of 300 registered members of CPSK who are mainly parents/guardians of children with CP; 1 chairman of the society; 2 physiotherapist and 3 occupational therapists providing rehabilitation services in the society‟s clinic in Nairobi. One hundred members of the society, the chairman, one physiotherapist and one occupational therapist were sampled to make a total 103 respondents. Data was collected using a researcher made questionnaire for the members of the society, an observation checklist, two researcher - made interview guides, one for the society‟s chairman and another for both the physiotherapist and occupational therapist. Other data was be generated through analysis of the society‟s constitution and members register. The questionnaire was piloted using ten members of the society while the interview guide for the paramedics was piloted using 1 physiotherapist and 1 occupational therapist. The data collected using the questionnaires was coded and edited manually. The codes were then fed into a computer and processed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) programme to yield descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. This processed data was then presented in frequency tables and histograms to give a clear visual presentation. Data yielded by interviews was analyzed using narrative description. Analyzed data was then summarized into themes and inferences were made. The results showed that some essential rehabilitation services were not provided by CPSK as the society lacks adequate human and material resources and funds for financing rehabilitation programmes The study established that those challenges as well as lack of reliable data on number of children with CP in Kenya hampered the society‟s provision and expansion of rehabilitation services to all parts of Kenya. Various recommendations were made to CPSK, the government of Kenya and researchers for enhancement of rehabilitation of children with CP. The researcher carried out an evaluative study of the Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya (CPSK) with focus on its performance in rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Kenya. The study was aimed at determining the rehabilitation services provided and the human and material resources available at CPSK, the achievements of the society and challenges faced. It also aimed at gathering views of the members on ways of enhancing rehabilitation services. The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons behind the failure of CPSK to extend rehabilitation services to other parts of Kenya outside Nairobi Province and raise recommendations for enhancing rehabilitation of children with CP. This study was based on the “Goal Setting and Task Performance Theory” of A. Locke and Gary P. Lathams (1968) on organizational behaviour. The researcher reviewed related literature on rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in Finland, Japan, Thailand, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. Descriptive case design was used in the study. The study was done at the CPSK premises in Nairobi. The diagnostic approach used in this descriptive case design enabled the researcher to investigate in detail the performance of CPSK and the factors influencing the society‟s rehabilitation programmes. The study targeted a population of 300 registered members of CPSK who are mainly parents/guardians of children with CP; 1 chairman of the society; 2 physiotherapist and 3 occupational therapists providing rehabilitation services in the society‟s clinic in Nairobi. One hundred members of the society, the chairman, one physiotherapist and one occupational therapist were sampled to make a total 103 respondents. Data was collected using a researcher made questionnaire for the members of the society, an observation checklist, two researcher - made interview guides, one for the society‟s chairman and another for both the physiotherapist and occupational therapist. Other data was be generated through analysis of the society‟s constitution and members register. The questionnaire was piloted using ten members of the society while the interview guide for the paramedics was piloted using 1 physiotherapist and 1 occupational therapist. The data collected using the questionnaires was coded and edited manually. The codes were then fed into a computer and processed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) programme to yield descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. This processed data was then presented in frequency tables and histograms to give a clear visual presentation. Data yielded by interviews was analyzed using narrative description. Analyzed data was then summarized into themes and inferences were made. The results showed that some essential rehabilitation services were not provided by CPSK as the society lacks adequate human and material resources and funds for financing rehabilitation programmes The study established that those challenges as well as lack of reliable data on number of children with CP in Kenya hampered the society‟s provision and expansion of rehabilitation services to all parts of Kenya. Various recommendations were made to CPSK, the government of Kenya and researchers for enhancement of rehabilitation of children with CP.