Daily living activities of physically disabled children in ismailia city

ABSTRACT

The present study is descriptive study that aiming to assess daily living activities of physically disabled children. The study was conducted at the available established settings in Ismailia city including Handicapped Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Unit in Suez Canal University Hospitals and Physiotherapy Unit in Health Insurance Hospitals. The sample included 76 physically disabled children and their accompanying mothers. Data were obtained through an interview with the studied children and their accompanying mothers using three tools, structured interview questionnaire, physical assessment sheet to assess the physically disabled children's daily living activities and rating scale to assess the psychological aspects of the studied children. The results of the study revealed that the studied children were partially dependent in relation to eating and drinking, personal hygiene, toileting and studying their lessons, while they were independent in relation to their motor activities and using both telephone and money. Physical disability has negative physical, financial, social and psychological impact on the studied children's families as found in 65.8%, 59.2%, 46.1% and 75% respectively. Slightly more than three quarters of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding the physical disability of their children [76.3%]. The study recommends applying an educational program to enable the physically disabled children to achieve their daily living activities independently. Further researches should be done aiming to increase the knowledge of mothers of the physically disabled children through experimental programs and assigning pamphlets on different types of disabilities