Ero, Debebe (PhD)Fantu, Hana2018-06-192023-11-042018-06-192023-11-042015-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/1757Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), a common, chronic disease, affects the patient as well as the family. It requires daily vigilance in blood sugar monitoring, dietary management and insulin administration. It is a lifelong condition for children and their parents, the management for which imposes a vast responsibility. This research has explored the experiences of parents having a child diagnosed with T1DM. Using a qualitative exploratory design, 12 parents raising children with T1DM and who are members of Ethiopian Diabetic Association participated in audio-recorded interview. At the time of the interviews the children ranged in age from 4 to 13 years, with duration of diagnosis ranging from 1 year to 12 years. Eight major themes were identified, including issues of parental feeling and emotion, factors associated with parental distress, challenges encountered, family relationship, school and health care, diabetes education, coping and adaptation. Within each theme, numerous sub-themes were identified. The identification of challenges and unmet needs of parents implies the health care and schools systems should acknowledge the need and provide the required services and support. Psycho social, financial and emotional issues should be managed and a formal follow-up plan should be in place starting from time of hospitalization, to create access to diabetic education and raising public awareness. And, a holistic and integrated interventions at all level from policy, education, and practice and research point of view against burden of raising child with T1DM is essentialentype 1 diabetes mellitus; children; parent; stress; hyperglycemia; hypoglycemiaThesis