Title :Improvement In Social Capital And Health Of Children With Cerebral Palsy: Evidence From Resource-Poor Settings

Authors : Bayu Arie Fianto

Departement : Ekonimi Islam

Journal Name :Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology

Kinds of Journal :

Keywords :Improvement In Social Capital And Health Of Children With Cerebral Palsy: Evidence From Resource-Poor Setting

ABSTRACT
As with typically developing children, adequate nutrition and physical, cognitive, emotional, and social experiences in a relevant context are necessary for the growth and development of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in order to reach their potential. Some children with CP with more severe impairments (e.g. those functioning in Gross Motor Function Classification System level III and above) are more at risk of not receiving optimal input considered important to develop a good level of activities and participation in society.1 This can be understood in terms of social capital, a concept that refers to the networks, norms, and trust that facilitate cooperation and coordination among individuals and groups in a society. Social capital relates to the value that individuals derive from being connected to others in a community, and it is often seen as a valuable resource that can be leveraged for personal or collective benefit. Social capital can have a range of positive effects on individuals and society, including improved economic outcomes, and also better health outcomes. However, social capital can be unevenly distributed, with some groups having less access to social networks and resources than others. Those with disabilities are typically disadvantaged,2 and strategies that can enhance social capital in the most vulnerable of those, i.e. families with a very low socioeconomic level with a disabled child who has a very low functioning level, might result in improving health outcomes.

Al Imam et al. examined the effectiveness of an integrated microfinance/livelihood and community-based rehabilitation (IMCBR) program to improve the health-related quality of life and motor function of children with CP in rural Bangladesh.3 Microfinance programs are typically designed to adjust to the needs of local people, especially the poor, in order to facilitate their financial inclusion, empower them, improve their livelihood, and alleviate poverty.4 They provide financial services, such as small loans, savings accounts, and insurance, to individuals with low income who lack access to traditional banking services. Microfinance programs often target marginalized communities, who tend to be excluded from the formal financial sector due to lack of collateral, credit history, or other requirements. By providing small loans and other financial services, microfinance programs enable these individuals to access the capital they need to start or grow their businesses, invest in education, or improve their living conditions. The authors studied the motor function of these children and acquisition of social capital among the most economically deprived segments of the population. This is important because disabled individuals, along with their families, are often excluded from financial aid programs. Such extremely poor families struggle to meet their daily needs in terms of shelter and food, let alone rehabilitation programs for their children with CP. Access to finance is important for these families, as it may provide the opportunity to improve their quality of life including health and well-being. Microfinance is a powerful vehicle to create financial inclusion, especially for the poor.3 Therefore, this study has been organized as an important part of community-based rehabilitation to improve economic results.

The results highlight the effectiveness of an IMCBR program in improving both the social capital levels and health-related quality of life of children with CP and their families. They stress the need to incorporate caregiver skills and improve support for institutional community-based rehabilitation programs for the health and safety of children with CP and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in settings with limited resources.

The study by Al Imam et al. is among the few studies to focus on the relationship between microfinance and health, especially in resource-poor settings. It is an important addition to the current literature, especially on the topic of microfinance and sustainability.

For details :
https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.15566