Hemiplegic Patients - The Socio-Economic And Cultural Challenges At Coast Referral County Hospital

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.