“People keep staring at you in public for no reason”: Experiences and coping strategies of parents WITH autistic children in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

BackgroundAutism Spectrum Disease has attracted many concerns recently worldwide. Individuals suffering from autism are considered to be the most vulnerable worldwide. This is due to the fact that they suffer discrimination, inequity in access to health and education services, and other societal opportunities. Parents of children with ASD are reported to experience greater levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of parents with autistic children in Ghana. MethodsThe study employed a qualitative approach specifically, an exploratory descriptive design using a purposive sampling technique to recruit 15 parents (13 mothers and 2 fathers) of children with ASD. A semi-structured interview guide designed by the researchers was used to collect the data. ResultsFour themes and 11 subthemes were formulated from the data gathered by using content analysis. The study ascertained the parents of these autistic children had good knowledge about autism, its causes, and signs, and symptoms, however few of the mothers associated autism with a bad omen and being cursed. These parents were dissatisfied with the way and manner they were treated by the public due to their children’s condition. ConclusionIn conclusion, parents with autistic children experienced psychological, physical, and social challenges. It is therefore recommended that adequate support be provided for parents with autistic children by their families, loved ones, and community members to help them to cope successfully with this situation.