A recent study (Naaz et al., 2025) brings to light the immense psychosocial and economic burden faced by families raising children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The findings reveal a striking correlation between the severity of a child’s motor impairment, classified under the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and the challenges their families endure​.

🔸Financial Hardship: Over 52.5% of families experience severe financial distress due to medical costs, assistive devices, and the inability of caregivers—often mothers—to maintain full-time employment​.
🔸Daily Life Disruptions: Frequent hospital visits, therapy sessions, and round-the-clock caregiving significantly alter family routines, often leading to the neglect of other children and limited opportunities for social engagement​.
🔸Caregiver Mental Health Toll: 55% of caregivers report moderate-to-severe emotional distress, with 20.6% experiencing severe mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances​.
🔸Social Isolation: The study notes that family leisure is often sacrificed, with over 58% of families experiencing moderate disruption and 27.5% facing severe disruption in recreational and social activities​.

These findings paint a stark reality: the burden of caregiving is not only financial but deeply personal, reshaping the lives of entire families.

The study suggests that the higher the GMFCS level, the greater the strain, with families of children in GMFCS Level V (most severe) experiencing the most significant hardships​.
While government programs like Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) exist to support children with disabilities, many families remain unaware of these resources or struggle to access them, further compounding their challenges​.

In light of these findings, we must ask:
🔷When a family reaches a breaking point—overwhelmed by financial constraints, emotional exhaustion, and social isolation—what choices remain❓
🔷Could the severe burdens faced by families be a key factor in the abandonment and surrender of children with CP❓
🔷If families are left unsupported, are we as a society unintentionally pushing them toward that heartbreaking decision❓

Let’s discuss!

– Pristy Paul