Maternal attitudes towards spastic cerebral palsy

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Maternal attitudes play a crucial role in the care and development of children with spasticity.
• Understanding factors influencing these attitudes is essential for targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the attitudes of mothers towards their children with spasticity.
• To identify factors influencing maternal attitudes, including child-related and socioeconomic variables.
• To compare attitudes between mothers of children with spasticity and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 120 mothers of children with spasticity (aged 2-12 years) participated.
• The Mother's Attitude Scale was used to assess maternal attitudes.
• Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship between maternal attitudes and various child and socioeconomic factors.

Main Results:

• Maternal attitudes were strongly correlated with the severity of the child's handicap and their IQ (r < 0.74).
• Mother's education, income, occupation, and habitat showed a significant but weaker correlation (0.23-0.35).
• Child's age, sex, and family type did not significantly influence maternal attitudes.

Conclusions:

• The child's neurological condition and cognitive abilities are primary determinants of maternal attitudes towards spasticity.
• Mothers in the study group (rural/urban) exhibited more positive attitudes than the control group, particularly those under 30.
• Ongoing maternal counseling is vital for improving attitudes and facilitating effective care for children with spasticity.