Child with Intellectual Disability and Parental Response: A Comparative Study of Nuclear and Extended Family Structures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
The birth of a child with an intellectual disability puts varying amount of pressure on nuclear and extended families. The purpose of this research paper is to explore the experiences of parents having children with intellectual disability in nuclear and extended families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). For this purpose, 12 parents for in-depth interviews and 24 parents for three focus group discussions were selected. Furthermore, in-charge from each center was also interviewed. It was found that parents belonging to extended family structure comparatively feel relax due to family support in managing the child’s care and household activities. On the other hand, institutional support can reduce the burden of child care on parents resides in nuclear family structure
