Lived Experiences of Single Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disability: Cases from Center for Mentally Challenged Children
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Having a child with disability is challenging for many parents in many African countries. Mothers, in most cases, single once are those who face additional burdens as they are primary care givers and soul providers to their children with disability in addition to other regular responsibilities. This study was conducted aiming to explore the life of Single Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disability in the case of Center for Mentally Challenged Children (CMCC) in Addis Ababa. The study specifically focused on the challenges, effects or consequences of challenges, coping strategies and specific needs and future perspectives of single mothers of children with intellectual disability. A phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experience of single mothers and semi- structured interviews were applied with four single mothers of children with intellectual disability selected using purposive sampling technique. FGD and observation were also used for data collection. Findings indicated that death/separation of husbands, Family/societal reactions towards single motherhood as well as disability, lack of education /trainings for children with ID, lack of financial support and employment opportunity and uncertainty about the future are major care giving challenges of single mothers of children with ID. Results also revealed the effects/consequences of those challenges in mothers life such as psychological strains, emotional disturbance, social isolation, financial and spiritual crises. Hope, spiritual believes and develop relationship with other parents are also coping strategies mothers used. Moreover, the study indicated the mothers’ wishes and aspirations such as access to access to diagnosis, referral as well as other health related services, teaching new generation about disability, developing education and training system for children with ID and creating integrated job opportunity for children with ID and their mothers. The findings expected to provide a detailed information and used as indicator of the need for further research on real life experiences of single mothers of children with intellectual disability not only in Addis Ababa but nationwide too. The results of this study also hoped to give insights and direction for researchers, educators, policy makers development planners and community leaders on what should be done in the future and take measures to minimize the lifelong challenges of single mothers of children with ID.
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Education