OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore and describe the experiences and coping mechanisms of caregivers of children with ASD in Dr Kenneth Kaunda district, North West province, South Africa.
METHODS: Qualitative explorative, contextual and descriptive design with purposive sampling technique and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analysed following the six steps of reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Two themes were identified: Caregivers\' experiences in raising a child with autism, and caregivers\' coping in raising a child with autism.
CONCLUSIONS: The research established caregivers\' experiences and coping mechanisms in raising a child with ASD and the effects on different aspects of their lives including emotional, social and financial aspects, which contribute negatively to their holistic well-being. These impediments warrant the establishment of emotional support groups, empowerment of caregivers and awareness-raising through campaigns to educate the family and the community on the diverse challenges.Contribution: The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted challenges faced by caregivers of children with ASD and provide insights into the support systems and coping mechanisms employed by these caregivers within the socio-ecological context.
目的:这项研究的目的是探索和描述KennethKaunda博士地区ASD儿童看护人的经验和应对机制,西北省,南非。
方法:定性探索,使用目的抽样技术和半结构化访谈进行了上下文和描述性设计。按照反身性专题分析的六个步骤对数据进行了分析。
结果:确定了两个主题:照顾者抚养自闭症儿童的经验,和照顾者应对抚养自闭症儿童。
结论:研究建立了照顾者的经验和应对机制,以抚养患有ASD的孩子,以及对他们生活的不同方面的影响,包括情感,社会和金融方面,这对他们的整体福祉有负面影响。这些障碍需要建立情感支持小组,通过开展运动,对家庭和社区进行各种挑战的教育,增强护理人员的权能和提高认识。贡献:这项研究的结果有助于更深入地了解ASD儿童看护者面临的多方面挑战,并提供对这些看护者在社会生态背景下采用的支持系统和应对机制的见解。