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

Abstract

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.