Abstract:
Background: Hemiplegia is manifestation of muscles paralysis of the body contra-lateral to side of brain
pathology. Patients tend to have a unique complex of physical, psychological and social problems. They
experience challenges which are transformed into the family, community and national issues at various stages
of sickness. The influence of socio-economic and cultural challenges on the outcome of rehabilitation of patients
with this problem has not been explored. The objectives were to establish the social, assess the cultural and to
determine the economic challenges encountered by patients suffering from hemiplegia at Coast County
Hospital. Method: 121 patients suffering from hemiplegia attending physiotherapy at Coast Referral county
Hospital took part in across sectional descriptive survey in June 2013. Questionnaires were used for data
collection and analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results: Participants indicated that social, cultural and financial
challenges were a reality before and after onset of hemiplegia. The community had a great responsibility of
caring for affected. Hemiplegia is a chronic sickness associated with hypertension which is costly to manage.
Financial challenges affected patients with hemiplegia the most. Conclusion: Through education on cultural
and its implication to sickness the social cultural challenges encountered by patients will be moderated. There
are economic issues encountered by hemiplegia patients due to chronicity of this condition. Formulation of
appropriate policies by the government on how to support the sick within the community can lessen the financial
burdens from the community with chronic sick individuals.
