Challenges of Mothers Raising Children with Physical Disabilities and Spirituality as a Coping Mechanism: The Case of Cheshire Ethiopia
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Date
2024-08-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study explored the challenges of mothers raising children with physical disabilities and the
role of spirituality in coping. The study used a qualitative approach to gather data from an
organization known as Cheshire Ethiopia. The participants selected were service users of the
organization where their children had physical disabilities such as Cerebral palsy and Spina
bifida. The study collected data by interviewing the mothers and key informants in the
organization. The key informants were rehabilitation workers employed within the organization
responsible for assisting parents and children with counseling and physiotherapy. The study
found that mothers had challenges related to their marriage, finances, occupation, social stigma,
and isolation. The results also revealed that the most widely used coping mechanism was
spiritual coping. Mothers used prayer, faith, and hope in God to cope with challenges they
encountered in their day-to-day lives. Spirituality also benefited the mother's ability to find
meaning in the child’s disability, grow personally, and become a better person.
Key words: Mothers, physical disabilities, challenges, spirituality and coping
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Keywords
Mothers, physical disabilities, challenges, spirituality and coping