Background: Caregivers significantly influence play for children with cerebral palsy by adapting the environment and creating opportunities for engagement. There appears to be a gap in the way Occupational Therapists and caregivers view play and how they facilitate play, for children with cerebral palsy. Thus, the Occupational Therapists ‘understanding of the awareness, knowledge and experiences of play from the caregiver’s perspective are essential, if the therapist, is to assist the caregiver in developing natural play strategies that allow children with cerebral palsy to be integrated in play activities. This study explores caregivers’ perspectives on play as a meaningful occupation for children with cerebral palsy. Objectives: The study aims to explore the caregiver’s perspectives regarding play for children with cerebral palsy in Mankweng Tertiary Hospital, Limpopo Province South Africa. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study explored the experience of ten caregivers and ten children, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and direct observations. Interview transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, while observational data served to triangulate and enrich the findings. Ethical approval was granted by the University of the Witwatersrand, and informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation were maintained throughout the study. Results: Four themes were derived from the data using thematic analysis. Shift in play between generations, caregiver involvement on children’s play, the impact of play on a child with cerebral palsy and play with a disabled child. These provided insight into the caregivers past play experiences, their current perceptions of play, their views on play for children with cerebral palsy and the nature of play interactions between caregivers and children. Conclusions: Caregivers are key in supporting play for children with cerebral palsy, but face challenges shaped by generational shifts, limited resources, and stigma. Caregivers face challenges in facilitating play for children with cerebral palsy, and often relying on technology as a substitute, hindering meaningful play opportunities. Strengthening support through targeted education and culturally relevant strategies is essential. Occupational Therapists should work collaboratively with caregivers to develop accessible play interventions. The findings highlight the need for caregiver-centered approaches and the integration of play into rehabilitation services to enhance developmental outcomes and caregiver-child interaction.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, J.P.D., L.K., and L.M.; methodology, J.P.D., L.K., and L.M.; formal analysis, J.P.D.; investigation, J.P.D.; resources, J.P.D.; data curation, J.P.D.; writing—original draft preparation, J.P.D.; writing—review and editing, D.F. and L.M.; visualization, J.P.D.; supervision, D.F., L.K., and L.M.; project administration, J.P.D.; funding acquisition, J.P.D. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research was funded by the Faculty Research Committee Individual Endowment Grant (FRC). Grant number: Individual grant 2024, 30 September 2024.
Institutional Review Board Statement
The study was reviewed and approved by the University of Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee Medical (HREC-MED), with Ethical clearance number: M231108 M240410-C-0001, Approved on the 10-April-2024. Additionally, The Limpopo Department of Health provided Permission for the study to be conducted, as recruitment took place in the hospital.
Informed Consent Statement
Informed consent was obtained from the Legal guardian of the children, and all the caregivers involved in the study.
Data Availability Statement
Data supporting this study findings is publicly available on different database such as google schooler, ScienceDirect, web of science and Elsevier.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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