UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES FACED BY PARENTS RAISING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THE COPING STRATEGIES THEY EMPLOY IN RESPONSE TO THEIR CHILDREN'S CONDITION. A STUDY IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
Author
Nwatu, Nneka Patricia
Term
4. Semester
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-06-12
Pages
1942
Abstract
Forældre til børn med handicap oplever ofte ekstra følelsesmæssige, økonomiske og sociale belastninger. Dette kvalitative studie undersøgte både udfordringerne og måderne at mestre dem på i Enugu-delstaten, Nigeria. Tre forældre til børn med diagnosticerede handicap deltog og blev udvalgt målrettet i forhold til formålet. Med en fænomenologisk tilgang, som fokuserer på menneskers levede erfaringer og betydninger, blev der gennemført dybdegående, semistrukturerede interviews. Data blev analyseret induktivt med tematisk analyse, hvor resultaterne blev samlet i temaer og undertemaer. Fortolkningen tog afsæt i to teoretiske perspektiver: coping-teori (hvordan mennesker håndterer stress) og økologisk systemteori (hvordan familie, lokalsamfund og bredere systemer påvirker handlinger). Deltagerne beskrev følelsesmæssig stress, økonomisk pres, social tilbagetrækning og samfundets opfattelser og holdninger som centrale udfordringer. De håndterede dem ved at anerkende og acceptere barnets handicap, have et positivt perspektiv, trække på troen og bruge relationer i deres lokalsamfund. Studiet peger på værdien af et samarbejde mellem sundhedsvæsen, socialfaglige professionelle, lovgivere og forældre for at styrke mestring og støtte forældres trivsel.
Parents raising children with disabilities often face added emotional, financial, and social pressures. This qualitative study explored both the challenges and the ways parents cope in Enugu State, Nigeria. Three parents whose children had been diagnosed with disabilities took part, selected purposively to match the study’s focus. Using a phenomenological approach, which centers on people’s lived experiences and meanings, the researcher conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed inductively with thematic analysis, grouping findings into themes and sub-themes. Two perspectives guided the interpretation: Coping theory (how people manage stress) and Ecological systems theory (how family, community, and wider systems shape actions). Participants described emotional stress, financial strain, social detachment, and negative societal attitudes as key challenges. They coped by acknowledging and accepting their child’s disability, looking for positives, leaning on faith, and drawing on relationships in their communities. The study points to the value of joint efforts by health services, social work professionals, lawmakers, and parents to strengthen coping and support caregivers’ well-being.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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