DOI: 10.5176/2315-4330_WNC15.151
Authors: Khara T. Aspacio, Mary Ann M. Gonzaga,Kristin Nicol J. Sahiri and Beaven Andrew Atienza
Abstract:
Background: Parenting a child with a developmental disability is more like parenting a normally developing child than it is different. Besides the child’s cognitive difficulties, children with mental retardation often have associated motor, medical, psychopathological, and other disabilities. So too must one consider the parent’s emotional, psychological, social, and practical reactions and concerns. In Iligan City alone, perhaps not much is known about the incidence of Mental Retardation and the problems and struggles that the parents of these kinds of children have to go through every day of their lives. Although there have been several studies conducted to determine the problems and struggles of families with a mentally retarded member in different places around the globe, the researchers felt the need to ascertain this existence and incidence of home care-related problems in the household of families with a mentally retarded child specifically here in Iligan City. Objective:This study aimed to determine the characteristics and frequency of problems that exist in the home care of mentally retarded children in Iligan City with special focus on practical, emotional, and psychosocial issues, and its relation to the deliverance of quality care. Methodology:This study used the Descriptive-Correlational Design with self-structured questionnaires divided into 5 parts and were given to the computed sample size of 40 respondents who were the primary caregivers of the mentally retarded children studying at Iligan City SPED Center, selected through random sampling technique. Data generated by the questionnaires were then analyzed and interpreted. Results:This study showed that when practical problems are addressed, such as when constant supervision is high, then the quality of home care is also high.It is interesting to note that when psychological and emotional problems, such as sense of inadequacy, shame and generalized anxiety disorder is low, the quality of home care is high. Conclusion:Thus such findings may shed light on the situations that these families face in caring for a mentally retarded child, as well as to ascertain the need for awareness and support for such challenged families.
Keywords: Mental Retardation, Practical, Emotional & Psychosocial Problems, Quality Home Care
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