| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
Background: Albeit disability-inclusive development and activism have gained ground in Uganda by means of the media, academia, and both international and national conventions and policy frameworks, the everyday experiences of caregivers with disabled children from a poor socio-economic context(s) have received less attention. The unique context of the high disability prevalence rate in poor resources settings or context including Mpigi among other districts in Uganda remains under-researched.
Methodology and methods: Following this, the study adopted a qualitative exploratory methodology to understand the everyday experiences of these caregivers and their children. Thus, this study explored the everyday challenges, available resources, and strategies that these caregivers use to enhance (or sometimes hinder) their wellbeing as well as their children. This was achieved by conducting sixteen (16) semi-structured interviews with caregivers as well as three (3) informal interviews with some selected children. Interviews were conducted in Luganda and later translated into English. These caregivers and their physically disabled children were recruited for the interview process by means of purposeful and convenient sampling techniques, respectively. Interviews were further supported by means of observation and field notes. Analysis of data collected through interviews, observation and field notes was done manually by means of inductive content analysis.
Key results: In utilising the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID) Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, the study came up with main and sub-themes that revealed how the everyday experiences of these caregivers and their children are shaped by economic, social, and cultural structures such poverty, stigma and discrimination, institutions, gender and patriarchy, social organisations, among other constructs. These presented them with some challenges including financial constraints, psychosomatic challenges, breakdown in family and social relations, among others. The study further divulged that caregivers in overcoming these challenges had to diversify their household income-generating activities, rely on their religious beliefs and hope, fall on limited social supports, accepting the situation and developing new caregiving skills and techniques.
Conclusions and recommendations: The study findings offer nuanced policy recommendations and intervention framework(s) that can enhance their wellbeing amid their social, cultural, and economic constraints. Among them include the rolling-out of economically viable skills development programmes and the provision of capital (finances) to provide an all-year-round income for the caregivers. Others include the provision of counseling and psychotherapy to address their everyday psychosomatic and emotional needs. Also among these recommendations is the everyday sensitisation of household and community members on the challenges associated with disability as well as the establishment of an interactive social support system. | |