Premium
Service providers' perceptions of families caring for children with disabilities in resource‐poor settings in South Africa
Author(s) -
Khan Gadija,
Isaacs Dane,
Makoae Mokhantšo Gladys,
Fluks Lorenza Logan,
Mokhele Tholang,
Mokomane Zitha
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1111/cfs.12761
Subject(s) - service provider , thematic analysis , nursing , poverty , resource (disambiguation) , perception , service (business) , psychology , medicine , qualitative research , business , sociology , political science , computer network , social science , marketing , neuroscience , computer science , law
Caring for children with disabilities (CWD) is a challenging task for families and service providers alike. Even though previous research has explored experiences and perceptions of families who care for CWD, research focusing on service providers' perceptions of such families is limited. Through the lens of a care framework, the present study aims to explore service providers' perceptions of families caring for CWD in resource‐poor settings in South Africa. Key informant interviews were conducted with managers of 10 organizations supported by the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. An inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that family structure, poverty, service inaccessibility, negative beliefs, and stigma by community members, in addition to parental substance abuse, influenced how families care for CWD in resource‐poor settings in South Africa. These findings have implications for policy amendments regarding the care dependency grant (CDG) to ensure that it benefits all CWD and not only those who need full‐time care and services.