Organizational and operational capabilities of specialist  centres for children with psychomotor disability in Abidjan.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the organizational and operational capabilities of specialized centres for children with psychomotor disability in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.


METHODS
This descriptive study was carried out from February to May, 2006 at the various specialized centres for children with psychomotor disability that exist in the district of Abidjan. The procedure comprised a clinical description of the disabled children admitted to these centres and an assessment of the centres' organization and operational capabilities.


RESULTS
Six specialist centres for children with psychomotor disability were identified, namely the Infant Guidance Centre, the Awakening and Stimulation Centre for disabled Children, the "Sainte-Magdeleine" Centre, the Medical and Training Institute, the "Page Blanche" institute and the "Colombes Notre Dame de la Paix" Centre. Among the children, 97.15% were day patients, 66.37% were mentally challenged, 30.96% had psychomotor impairment and 2.66% had motor impairments. The level of organization varied but the centres nevertheless had operational administrative, medical and paramedical staff, despite the absence of certain specialties. However, the lack of personnel, equipment and infrastructure is hindering the delivery of adequate services to the children.


CONCLUSIONS
In Abidjan District, reception centres for children with psychomotor impairments are essentially privately run. Organizational and operational performances were suboptimal, with a low carer-to-patient ratio. Reinforcement of the centres' operational capabilities appears to be necessary.
Alloh
D
D
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Yopougon University Hospital, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. mevoila77@yahoo.fr
Nandjui
B
B
Bombo
J
J
Manou
B
B
Twoolys
A
A
Alloukou
R
R
Ake
N
N
Konate-Konan
E
E
Pillah
L
L
Coulibaly
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data