Human capabilities of South African parents who have children with developmental disabilities

Lumka Magidigidi; Nicolette V Roman; Inge K Sonn

doi:10.4102/ajod.v12i0.1155

Human capabilities of South African parents who have children with developmental disabilities

Afr J Disabil. 2023 Jun 19:12:1155. doi: 10.4102/ajod.v12i0.1155. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Lumka Magidigidi¹, Nicolette V Roman¹, Inge K Sonn¹

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Families and Society, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract

Background: Parenting a child with a developmental disability (DD) has a substantial influence on the lives of the parents or caregivers, as well as on how the family operates. This is frequently because of the adjustments in some daily practices that are crucial for parents' or caregivers' human capabilities to provide for childcare. There is not enough research done on human capabilities of parents or children with DD in South Africa.

Objectives: This study investigated the available support in improving the human capabilities of parents or caregivers with children with DD and the bodily health and bodily integrity human capabilities of parents or caregivers with children with DD.

Method: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 parents or caregivers of children aged between 1 and 8 years old with DD. This study used snowball sampling. Thematic data analysis was chosen to analyse the data collected.

Results: The results of the study indicate that participants have difficulties bringing up their children because of the emotional strain that goes along with parenting a child with DD. In addition, participants were not able to afford decent and satisfactory shelter and had limited access to good quality food because they could not afford it.

Conclusion: A lack of social support and care burden influences parents' or caregivers' ability to raise their child with developmental disability.

Contribution: The study contains helpful information about families of children with DD in under-resourced locations. The information may be of significance to policymakers who are accountable for designing and executing policies that are targeted at assisting parents or caregivers of children with DD.

Keywords: South Africa; capabilities approach; children with disabilities; developmental disability; family; freedoms; human capabilities; opportunities; parents.