Case report

Mother’s experience in the care of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a degenerative, non-progressive disease that affects the muscles and development in countless children, a consequence of an injury that affects the central nervous system in the phase of structural and functional maturation. The incidence of CP in Brazil is around 30 to 40 thousand new cases per year. Objective: to understand the strategies and difficulties experienced by the family in living and caring for the child with cerebral palsy, focusing on the management and daily adaptations that the mother has developed since the discovery of the diagnosis of CP. Method: Qualitative case study carried out with a mother residing in a city in the interior of the State of São Paulo. Data collections were carried out at the interviewee's home with recorded questions and answers. Results: Family arrangements were found to meet the child's needs and incorporate the necessary care for the child's survival in the family routine. Conclusion: The case report allowed to know the various practical, psychological and family issues of the mother's daily life in the face of integral care to the child with cerebral palsy and evidenced the importance of social support in this pro