PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF IN-TOEING GAIT USING ABDUCTION SPLINT IN CHILDREN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OF AGE AT JINJA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL. A PROPOSED STUDY.

Background of the study Globally in-toeing gait is the most common foot deformity in infants, occurring in 1-3/1000 children, and is one of the most common pediatric gait disturbances. Prompted by parental concerns, it accounts for many new patient specialist visits. A descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated parents’ involvement and policies guiding the management of children with foot deformities in Kenya revealing that more than half (54.6%) of the parents were actively involved in decision making whereas 45.6% were passively involved. The study aims to assess Parental involvement in the management of undergoing gait using abduction splints in children less than five years of age.  Methodology A cross-sectional study. The study population will consist of 44 parents whose children have undergone gait at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.   Discussion There are consistently increasing cases of persistent in-toeing gait among children less than five years of age at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. This is partly due to the failure of parents to get actively and fully involved in the management process of undergoing gait as recommended by health professionals. Parents are required to ensure serial casting, bracing, consistency, and gentle stretching of the leg and foot muscles and if in-toeing gait is associated with other medical conditions like cerebral palsy treatment should also focus on the laying treatment for better results. The study will aim to assess Parental involvement in the management of in-toeing gait using abduction splint in children less than five years of age by determining the practice, attitude, and knowledge of parents at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. This may promote health education about in-toeing gait, early improvement of gait, and prevention of further deformities improving their mobility, independence, and social integration.