Family Quality of Life and Support: Perceptions of Family Members of Children with Disabilities in Ethiopia

Julia Jansen- van Vuuren, Rosemary Lysaght, Beata Batorowicz, Solomon Dawud and Heather Michelle Aldersey
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Julia Jansen- van Vuuren: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Rosemary Lysaght: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Beata Batorowicz: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Solomon Dawud: Community Based Rehabilitation Program, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Heather Michelle Aldersey: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada

Disabilities, 2021, vol. 1, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: There has been increasing attention to quality of life for families supporting children with disabilities internationally; however, there is minimal research on family quality of life (FQOL) in low-income countries, and specifically in African contexts. This study explored how Ethiopian families of children with disabilities conceptualised FQOL and what they perceived their support needs related to FQOL were. Using a qualitative exploratory descriptive design, we interviewed Ethiopian family members of children with various disabilities. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English with professional translation assistance. We analysed translated transcripts inductively based on Braun and Clarke’s approach to thematic analysis. We found that spirituality was core to families and that they described FQOL in terms of their relationships within the immediate family and with the community. Additionally, families wanted to be self-sufficient and provide for themselves, but with the additional challenges of raising a child with a disability and pervasive poverty, they recognised their need for more support. Therefore, providing holistic, family-centred services to Ethiopian families of children with disabilities can contribute to enhancing FQOL.

Keywords: family quality of life; support; family; children with disabilities; Ethiopia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jdisab:v:1:y:2021:i:3:p:18-256:d:619152

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