Stress In Families Of Children With Intellectual Impairment At Dagbreek And Môreson Centres In The Khomas Education Region Of Namibia.

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken with the specific aim of investigating stress experienced by families of intellectually impaired children at the Dagbreek and Môreson Centres in Windhoek and to find out how these families cope with such stress. For the purpose of this study, a qualitative approach was adopted. Phenomenology was the guiding theory and semi-structured interviews were carried out to collect data with a sample of ten families whose children attended school at the aforementioned Centres. The data collected was analysed using thematic content analysis. Four main themes were identified and from them it was discovered that the ‘overall experience of their children’s impairment’ by parents and guardians was unique since they had mixed feelings (both positive and negative) and had different reactions to the diagnosis of their children’s impairment. The study indicated that stress for parents and guardians is caused by the daily demands of physical care, medical care and schooling needs of their children. Demands on parents by their children differ from family to family and are caused by a combination of impairment and the family situation. The study further noted that the existence of an intellectually impaired child in the family has a major impact on family members, the relationships of parents, separation of parents, extended families as well as on the public or community members. Stress in families is further worsened by discrimination and stigmatization by some members of the community. In addition, the support which families received from internal and external sources was regarded as important in enabling them to accept as well as to cope with the demands of caring for an intellectually impaired child though some families have to live with stress owing to the lack of services. In conclusion, with various types of stress experienced by parents and guardians, recommendations were

made that could improve the welfare of families with intellectually impaired children. These included the presence of therapists at the two educational centres, educating the community to better understand the nature and needs of impaired children, and the provision of counselling services. More research could be conducted on how stress experienced by families which related to the care for children suffering from intellectual impairment could be managed.