{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T04:50:44Z","timestamp":1791348644603,"version":"4.3.1"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]],"date-time":"2026-10-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791244800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]],"date-time":"2026-10-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791244800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Child"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cerebral palsy (CP) disproportionately affects children in low\u2010 and middle\u2010income countries, where stigma and discrimination lead to marginalization and reduced participation. To design culturally appropriate community\u2010based health promotion strategies that can address these challenges, the role of community stakeholders is crucial, yet unstudied in rural sub\u2010Saharan Africa. This study aimed to explore stakeholders\u2019 perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards children with CP and their caregivers in rural Malawi.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A qualitative study using semistructured focus group discussions was conducted with 68 stakeholders across five villages in Mangochi District, Malawi, from November 2022 to January 2023. Participants included traditional leaders, religious leaders, teachers, health surveillance assistants, traditional healers and community volunteers. Thematic analysis identified key themes regarding knowledge, perceptions, community participation and future needs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The following four major themes emerged: (1) limited knowledge about CP causes and treatment, with CP often attributed to infectious diseases, witchcraft or pregnancy complications; (2) perception of difficulties and their impact on the children and their caregivers; with financial constraints being named most and problems accessing education; (3) community participation and response; were stigma was identified as primary barrier to health promotion and community participation; and (4) future facilitators to improve quality of life including strong stakeholder willingness to support integrated care approaches.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Community stakeholders demonstrated positive attitudes towards children with CP and willingness to support inclusive care programmes, despite limited disease\u2010specific knowledge. Findings suggest that community\u2010based health promotion interventions addressing knowledge gaps, reducing stigma and strengthening referral pathways could significantly improve outcomes for children with CP and their families in low\u2010resource settings.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/cch.70361","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T04:19:27Z","timestamp":1791346767000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Community Stakeholder Perspectives on Children With Cerebral Palsy and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Study From Rural Malawi"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"52","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0286-7372","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bente","family":"van der Meijden","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam Amsterdam Institute for Global Child Health, Emma Children's Hospital  Amsterdam the Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Family Medicine Kamuzu University of Health Sciences  Blantyre Malawi"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-9465-770X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Victoria","family":"von Salmuth","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Family Medicine, Universiteitsingel Maastricht University  Maastricht the Netherlands"},{"name":"Shirati KMT Hospital  Mara region Tanzania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alpheus","family":"Njewa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy Mangochi District Hospital  Mangochi Malawi"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-0341-3990","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alinafe Chisulanda","family":"Kusate","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy Mangochi District Hospital  Mangochi Malawi"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8249-0856","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ria","family":"Reis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Global Health Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development  Amsterdam the Netherlands"},{"name":"Leiden, the Netherlands and Children's Institute Leiden University Medical Center  Cape Town South Africa"},{"name":"University of Cape Town  Cape Town South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5825-2831","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wieger","family":"Voskuijl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam Amsterdam Institute for Global Child Health, Emma Children's Hospital  Amsterdam the Netherlands"},{"name":"Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Global Health Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development  Amsterdam the Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Kamuzu University of Health Sciences  Blantyre Malawi"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_13_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/YCO.0b013e32833cf200"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913\u2010019\u20104822\u20106"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/dmcn.15445"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461\u2010021\u201003210\u20107"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/s001216220500112x"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/09567976211031895"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4135\/9781036232078.n9","volume-title":"Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide","author":"Braun V.","year":"2021"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4102\/ajod.v4i1.168"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0883073814549245"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_11_1","unstructured":"Eide A. 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