Background: Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) are critical in the survival and well-being of their children. Despite the caregivers' particularly demanding responsibilities, literature on their experiences is limited.
Objectives: This study explored the caregivers' experiences of providing care to children with CP.
Method: An explorative qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews was employed. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed guided by Colaizzi's seven-step methodology.
Results: Two themes emerged: the challenges in caregiving and positive experiences of providing care. Caregivers faced financial, psychological, social and physical challenges such as stigmatisation, a lack of work accommodations, time constraints due to demands of providing care, strained family relations, isolation, exclusion, emotional and physical exhaustion in their caregiving role. Despite the challenges, they also had fulfilling, positive experiences. Caregivers became more resilient, some relationships were strengthened and awareness of the CP condition increased over time.
Conclusion: Caring for a child with CP is challenging. Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability; therefore, a holistic, long-term perspective to supporting caregivers is necessary to ensure they can care for their children adequately.
Contribution: There is a need for various support structures for caregivers to lessen the burden of care. It is necessary to establish the relationships between the support structures available and the way that these structures are viewed and consequently utilised by the caregivers. This study highlights the experiences and needs of caregivers to inform stakeholders on intervention strategies.
Background: International literature has evidenced that Deaf people have been disadvantaged during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there is currently little research published within the South African context.
Objectives: This study investigated the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent response measures impacted Deaf adults in Cape Town.
Method: Using a descriptive approach, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were held with 15 Deaf adults in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants were purposively selected through a local Deaf organisation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Data revealed the challenges experienced when accessing information, the impact of communication barriers on daily life, and how the response measures impacted access to healthcare.
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate how the needs of the Deaf community were overlooked and their voices disregarded during the planning of the national pandemic response, ultimately having detrimental consequences. Therefore, the authors argue for greater inclusion of Deaf representatives to ensure equal access to information and resources, especially during a crisis.
Contribution: This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the field of disability and insights can inform both future research and interventions to promote equity and inclusion for Deaf people.
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