Needs and Social Support of Families of Children with Cerebral Palsy - Based on a Research in Beijing, Heilongjiang, Henan

Content introduction：

　　Children with cerebral palsy are special vulnerable groups, they and their families living in the pressure and pain for a long time. Many families have no choice but to give up the treatment of their children, even abandoned or killed them. But these are long-term ignored by the society. In this study, children with cerebral palsy and their families are the research object. This research use social support theory and case study method, conducted two rounds of interviews in six families from Beijing, Heilongjiang, and Henan province. Reveal the living conditions, needs and social support of children with cerebral palsy and their families. Policy recommendations are made in order to improve their survival conditions. The study found that: (1) The health care system, medical level is a key reason to cause cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy can be prevented. (2) The survival conditions of children with cerebral palsy and their families are very difficult. They face early diagnosis, rehabilitation and treatment, life care, economic support, psychological counseling, education and other needs. Children with cerebral palsy and their families have received economy, care and emotional support from friends and family, as well as the policies and service support from relevant government agencies. But the existing social support cannot meet the needs of children with cerebral palsy and their families. (4) Adequate social support can help children with cerebral palsy get early rehabilitation. Therefore, this study suggests that the relevant government departments, medical institutions need to strengthen the popularity of cerebral palsy knowledge, which is helpful to the prevention and early diagnosis of children with cerebral palsy. Establish and improve the health care system of accountability, investigated the responsibility of hospital. Establish special assistance for children with cerebral palsy under six-years old, which will help them to have early rehabilitation. Social assistance policy should take spending poverty into consideration; reduce the system rejection to those families. All these policies could meet the needs of children with cerebral palsy and their families.