Self-esteem and Resilience of Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy Followed at the Psychomotor Rehabilitation Department of the Don Orione Center in Bonoua.

Author(s): AKA Rita Ahou, IPOU Yves Stéphane, AHOUNOU Etobo Innocent, SON Gbolerou Jocelyne, AKA Eba Félicité, TRAORE Brahim Samuel, YEO-TENENA Jean Marie.

Caring for a child with cerebral palsy (CP) is a real challenge for parents, especially mothers in our socio-cultural context. We set out to assess self-esteem and resilience in mothers of children with cerebral palsy in Côte d'Ivoire. This cross-sectional, prospective, descriptive and analytical study involved 17 mothers of children cared for in the psychomotor rehabilitation department of the Centre Don Orione in Bonoua-Cote d'Ivoire. They were recruited by an exhaustive non-probabilistic method from September 23, 2024, to February 22, 2025. The average age of the respondents was 37.5 years. Of the 76.3% of mothers who said they were in a relationship, 47% claimed to have been neglected by their partner. Only two mothers had only one child, while the sick male child ranked 3rd among siblings in 58.8% and 35.3% respectively. In 53% of cases, the mothers had low self-esteem. The extent to which this self-esteem was affected varied according to the degree of the child's disability, the number of healthy children, and the social support and economic resources available to the family; their resilience being partly dependent on these factors. This research has highlighted the profound impact of caring for a child with cerebral palsy on mothers' well-being. It argues in favor of holistic care that includes strengthening the psychological and socioeconomic component for mothers and families of children living with a disability.