The Social Consequences of Raising Medically Fragile and Developmentally Challenged Children in Ghana

Rbk Lem

doi:10.4314/gjds.v8i2.3

Abstract

Various challenges and stresses affect families raising children who are medically fragile or developmentally-challenged. This paper explores the social consequences of raising children who are medically fragile and/or developmentally challenged. It is an ethnographic study of 13 families within the Tamale Metropolis. The overarching theme was the families’ search for safety and comfort doing their daily chores and in social situations. Major issues they have to deal with included overcoming environmental challenges and attitudinal barriers. Where safety and comfort could not be achieved, families were likely to limit social activities so that the child who was medically fragile and or developmentally challenged could be cared for at home, a secured environment in the view of parents.Keywords: Social Situation; Medically Fragile Child; Developmentally Challenged; Chronically Ill Child, Disability.

Highlights

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees the right of disabled people to special treatment
Little research has been done in Ghana on the social consequences of managing such care for families raising such challenged children
Jarvelin, and Kokkonen (1999) found that families raising children with diabetes experienced significantly less impact on family life, especially leisure activities, than families of children with disabilities. The authors related this difference to the constant care needed by the children with disabilities that decreased parents’ time for themselves and to the ability of families caring for a child with diabetes to return to a fairly stable family routine

Summary

Introduction

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees the right of disabled people to special treatment. Fragile children require skilled and supportive care to survive and partake in daily life Their families and friends have the added responsibility to providing not just care but specialized and extra care, physically, emotionally and socially, as such children are not able to function adequately at their age level. Taanila, Jarvelin, and Kokkonen (1999) found that families raising children with diabetes experienced significantly less impact on family life, especially leisure activities, than families of children with disabilities The authors related this difference to the constant care needed by the children with disabilities that decreased parents’ time for themselves and to the ability of families caring for a child with diabetes to return to a fairly stable family routine. This study explores parents’ perceptions of how their families’ relationships with others and social activities were affected by raising children who were developmentally challenged and/or medically fragile

Design and Method

Procedures

Discussion of Findings

Findings

Limitations