Exploring Therapy-Related Constraints in the Delivery of Speech and Language Therapy Services to Children with Cerebral Palsy in Kibera Slums, Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2024
Authors
Mwende, Mutuiri Caroline
Abuom, Tom
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
EJSER
Abstract
This study sought to establish therapy-related constraints in delivering Speech and
Language Therapy (SLT) services to children with CP in Kibera slums. The study was
guided by the four-level model of the healthcare system and adopted a descriptive survey
research design. The target population included caregivers of children with CP, speech
therapists (in training), occupational therapists, and other healthcare providers offering
speech services, a total of 51 participants. Purposive sampling was used to select study
participants, and the entire study population served as the sample size. Data was
collected through questionnaires for caregivers and interviews with speech therapists (in
training), occupational therapists, and other healthcare providers offering speech
services. The study ensured validity through professional reviews and a pilot study
conducted at a similar institution within the Lang’ata constituency in Nairobi County.
Reliability was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha to assess the consistency of research
instruments. Qualitative data from interviews were analyzed thematically, while
quantitative data from the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics,
including frequency counts, percentages, and tables utilizing SPSS. The study revealed
that a significant percentage of caregivers were discontented with the way the therapist
treated their children with cerebral palsy, which not only resulted to inconsistent therapy
attendance, but also poor cooperation with the speech therapists. In addition, inadequacy
of available speech therapists, low quality of services provided, limited speech therapy resources and monetary constraints were cited as obstacles to seeking speech therapy
services despite some care centres offering subsidized or free services. The study
concluded that addressing these therapy-related constraints is essential to providing
effective care and delivery of speech and language therapy services to children with CP.
The study recommended that the government should prioritize the recruitment of speech
and language therapists in underserved areas, particularly in slum communities and
collaborate with NGOs to conduct disability awareness campaigns in Kibra in order to
combat stigmatization and ensure that community members are well-informed about the
available services for children with CP.
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Citation
Mwende, M. C., & Abuom, T. (2024). EXPLORING THERAPY-RELATED CONSTRAINTS IN THE DELIVERY OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY IN KIBERA SLUMS, NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA. European Journal of Special Education Research, 10(4).