47 research outputs found
Stigmatization, discrimination and exclusion of children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in northern Uganda
Social inclusion, care, and belonging of children with spina bifida : perspectives from Uganda
This study presents a situation analysis on daily functioning, caregiving, and inclusion of children with spina bifida in Uganda. 139 children with spina bifida and their families from 4 regions in Uganda participated in this study. Findings show how a complex play of cultural values, globalization and access to biomedical care determines knowledge, and negative attitudes about, and perception of children with spina bifida. Families and private non for profit organisations are the main providers of care of the children. Children with spina bfida had a more negative perception of themselves, were less likely to be in school, and had lower cognitive outcome compared to their siblings. Daily functioning and social inclusion were affected by motor function, incontinence, lack of support for caregivers, low household income, limited resources and knowledge of inclusive teaching, bullying, and inaccessibility of public transport, roads, and buildings. Positive experiences of belonging were found at family and household level and were closely related to the āubuntuā concept. When a child belongs, the child has a chance to live, to participate, to become, to be included. To facilitate inclusion, families need to be supported, and negative attitudes and behaviour of community members, teachers, and health workers need to be addressed.
Key words: disability, inclusion, spina bifida, Uganda, Afric
āObuntu bulamuā: entangled voices in visual narratives of children with disabilities in Uganda
Support to the education and livelihoods of war-affected children and youth in northern Uganda
Parental strees and support of parents of children with spina bifida in Uganda
Background: Children with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa depend for a large part of their functioning on their parent or caregiver. This study explores parental stress and support of parents of children with spina bifida in Uganda.
Objectives: The study aimed to explore perceived stress and support of parents of children with spina bifida living in Uganda and the factors that influence them.
Methods: A total of 134 parents were interviewed. Focus group discussions were held with four parent support groups in four different regions within the country. The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, Daily Functioning Subscales and Parental Stress Index Short Form (PSI/SF) were administered to measure the childās daily functioning level and parental stress levels.
Results: Parental stress was high in our study population with over half of the parents having a > 90% percentile score on the PSI/SF. Stress outcomes were related to the ability to walk (Spearmanās correlation coefficient [Ļ] = ā0.245), continence (Ļ = ā0.182), use of clean intermittent catheterisation (Ļ = ā0.181) and bowel management (Ļ = ā0.213), receiving rehabilitative care (Ļ = ā0.211), household income (Ļ = ā0.178), geographical region (Ļ = ā0.203) and having support from another parent in taking care of the child (Ļ = ā0.234). Linear regression showed parental stress was mostly explained by the childās inability to walk (Ī² = ā0.248), practicing bowel management (Ī² = ā0.468) and having another adult to provide support in caring for the child (Ī² = ā0.228). Parents in northern Uganda had significantly higher scores compared to parents in other regions (Parental Distress, F = 5.467*; ParentāChild Dysfunctional Interaction, F = 8.815**; Difficult Child score, F = 10.489**).
Conclusion: Parents of children with spina bifida experience high levels of stress. To reduce this stress, rehabilitation services should focus on improving mobility. Advocacy to reduce stigmatisation and peer support networks also need to be strengthened and developed.
Keywords: Parents; Stress; Spina Bifida; Disability; Afric