INTRODUCTION: Access to rehabilitation services is essential for improving functional outcomes and quality of life among children with physical disabilities. In Rwanda, however, families often face multiple barriers when seeking these services, and evidence on caregiver experiences remains limited. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of parents of children with physical disabilities regarding access to and utilization of rehabilitation services at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB).
METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Ten mothers of children with physical disabilities who had attended rehabilitation services for at least five months were purposively selected. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in Kinyarwanda and later translated into English. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis approach.
RESULTS: Three main themes emerged: barriers to accessing rehabilitation services, rehabilitation outcomes, and parental adaptability and experienced burden of disability. Key barriers included high transportation and treatment costs, long distances to services, limited awareness, health system constraints, and social stigma. Despite these challenges, parents reported improvements in their children’s physical and emotional functioning following rehabilitation. Caregivers also demonstrated resilience, drawing support from peer interactions and gradually adapting to their caregiving roles. However, significant economic strain, caregiving stress, and disruptions to family life were consistently reported.
CONCLUSION: Parents of children with physical disabilities in Rwanda face substantial financial, structural, and social barriers to accessing rehabilitation services. Strengthening decentralized services, improving community awareness, and enhancing financial protection mechanisms are critical to improving equitable access and outcomes.
