Family-Centred Care among Caregivers of Children with Disabilities in Selected Paediatric Rehabilitation Centres in Rwanda: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundFamily-centred care (FCC) is broadly acknowledged as the most effective method in paediatric rehabilitation. This study evaluated the use of FCC and its influencing factors in paediatric rehabilitation services in Rwanda due to scarcity of literature on FCC use in Rwanda.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted among 107 participants, using census-sampling method. The study used the Wilcoxon rank-sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests to determine the differences in Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC) median scores across socio-demographic variables. A stepwise regression with a P value threshold of <0.25 was used for variable selection. Model fit was determined using Akaike's Information Criterion. Data analysis was performed using Stata version 15.ResultsThe median age for caregivers was 36 years (IQR: 30–43) and 6 years (IQR: 3–10) for the children. Median rehabilitation duration was 10 months (IQR: 4–28). Common diagnoses were cerebral palsy and physical disability (each 44.9%). Self-employed parents reported higher FCC use compared to part-time employed parents (3.08, 95% CI: 2.02–3.66).ConclusionUse of FCC in paediatric rehabilitation in Rwanda is influenced by diagnosis, sibling number, child sex, rehabilitation institution, and parental employment. Interventions tailored to these factors are recommended to enhance FCC use. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2025;8(2):356-368