Cerebral Phausy: mother knowledge about the diagnosis and the meaning of this in the family dynamic

Abstract

A Cerebral Phausy (CP) is a neurological problem that involves damages in neuromuscular function, with or whithout intelectual deficit. The damages don´t have a progressive character and occur after a cerebral lesion that happens in the pre, near or post natal period. It may have consequences like motor or psychological alterations, paralysis, epilepsy, among others. Children with CP may cause several distruptions to parents. The objective of this research was to find out the knowledge the mothers have about CP and its impact on family dynamic. 20 others with a CP new born or 4 years child, from three different instuitions, were interviewed. It was used a semi-structured guide, previously tested. The obtained data were analyzed, based on the the Thematic Analysis of Contents. The Knowing limitations were about general and motor delay. The influence of the handicap on the family is posivite or negative, but there are changes on family dynamics, and the mother is the main affected member.