Psycho social needs of the care givers of the children with disabilities - a qualitative study in a rural community of Karnataka.

Abstract

Care givers play a central role in the lives of the children with disabilities. Their well being is essentially linked to that of their children. The socio cultural practices among the people in rural and urban community vary. Using a qualitative research method this was an attempt was to find the psychosocial needs of the caregivers while caring their children with disabilities in a rural community. The need for the study was to develop a psycho social intervention programme for the care givers of the children with disabilities to improve their quality of life based on their needs. Focus group discussions and In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 mothers and 2 grand mothers of the children with disabilities. The time duration of the study was two months. The findings of this study are: Need of emotional support, to reduce the stigma and ostracism towards disable individuals, need for financial support, reducing family burden and need for improving perceived social support to the care givers.