The goal of the study was to assess the psychological burden and social stigma among caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. Find out the relationship between the psychological burden of parents' and their socio-demographic characteristics (Age, numbers of family members, marital status, level of education, occupation, participation in trainings about CP, monthly income of the family, residency area, and house ownership).
Material and methods: A descriptive design, a non-probability purposive sample of 80 parents having children with cerebral palsy was conducted in the period from March to July 2023. Setting of the Study: The study has been carried out on parents of children with cerebral palsy at the Physiotherapy Center and Oncology Center located in Al-Saddar Medical City.
Study's findings: The findings of the study revealed that the majority of caregivers were mothers. Most of the sample is their age (30–34), they graduated from secondary school, and suffer from insufficient monthly income. The majority of participants had a moderate level of psychological burden and social stigma, and we found a highly significant correlation between psychosocial burden and social stigma.
The study recommended providing access to counseling and mental health services to help parents manage their psychological burden and improve their mental health. Increasing awareness and education about cerebral palsy and its impact on families will reduce social stigma and improve the acceptance of children with cerebral palsy. Offering support groups for caregivers to connect and share their experiences.
Key words: Social Stigma; Psychological Burden; Caregivers; Children; Cerebral Palsy
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