Single-parent Research Articles

Ministering to Single Parents among Young Adults in Central Monrovia District, Liberia

It was unusual for single parents to exist in Africa. It’s a rapidly expanding family pattern these days. A few of the difficulties associated with being a single parent are insecurity about raising children on one’s own without assistance, poverty, loneliness, and resentment toward the missing spouse. It is regrettable that certain churches that are supposed to support this group of individuals also fall short of their obligations. Attention must be paid to the social stigma, financial difficulties, humiliation, and derision that lone parents endure. This study investigates how churches in Central Monrovia District, Liberia, provide support to young adults who are single parents. This was achieved through a qualitative study and the study concluded that local churches in the Central Monrovia District of Seventh-day Adventist do not seem to have intentional programs for ministering to single parents within their congregations. It concluded that there was a quest for love among the single parents and they all needed attention, care and wanted to be treated fairly and given equal opportunities to serve in their local churches.

Effect of Work Experience on Marital Satisfaction and Marital Conflict among Normal and Shift Schedule Professionals of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Separation, single parenthood and divorce are all on the rise. The commotion of the work place mix with family obligation and expectation play a role in these marital challenges. The study examined Marital satisfaction and marital conflict the comparative analysis of shift schedule and normal working hours employee in Ekiti-state, Nigeria. A total of 700 staff (389 normal working hours schedule and 381 shift schedules) were selected, Slovin formula was employed to get a sample of the population. Participants ages ranged between <18 ->55 years. These research instruments were used to generate data from participants, namely Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale(EMSC)by Blaire et al 1987 and Kansas Marital Conflict Scale(KMSC) by Eggerman et al 1985. Data were analyzed with the use of analysis of variance (Anova and independent t-test). The findings show that there is a significant difference in the level of marital conflict reported by the professionals (Nurses, Police officers, Correctional officers and Civil servants)F(3,766)=40.58.P<.01. Observation of the means shows correctional officer (x=75.83) has highest level of marital conflict followed by police (x=72.86) then Nurses ( x= 66.34) and lastly civil servant. However there is also a significant difference in the marital satisfaction of the professionals F(3,766)=6,67.P<.01.Nurses reported highest score on marital satisfaction followed by Civil servants then police officer and and lastly correctional officer. Findings were discussed in relation to the existing literature on marital satisfaction and marital conflict

Caring is not always sharing: A scoping review exploring how COVID-19 containment measures have impacted unpaid care work and mental health among women and men in Europe.

Unpaid care work is mainly performed by women, whose mental health is more affected by caregiving burden and work-family conflict compared to men. COVID-19 containment measures may have exacerbated existing gender inequalities in both unpaid care work and adverse mental health outcomes. This scoping review provides an overview of recent evidence on the impact of COVID-19 containment measures on unpaid care work and mental health for subgroups of caregivers at the intersection of gender and other social differences (e.g., ethnicity, age, class) in Europe. Our study was informed and guided by Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework. We searched six academic databases (Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, CINAHL, Social Sciences Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, ASSIA) and hand-searched the reference lists of selected articles to identify relevant peer-reviewed research articles published between 1 March 2020 and 7 September 2022. In addition, we conducted a grey literature search using Google Scholar and a targeted hand search on known international and European websites. We included studies that reported gender-disaggregated results on unpaid care work and mental health in the context of COVID-19 containment measures in Europe. Two reviewers independently screened all abstracts and full texts for eligibility and extracted the relevant data. The results were synthesised narratively. Our results suggest a greater gender gap in unpaid care work division and, to a lesser extent, in mental health, which is unfavourable towards women and mothers. Despite this, we see a break in the traditional division of childcare, with fathers taking on a greater role in family work, which makes us optimistic about the division of care work in the post-COVID-19 era. This research also shows that among European women, population groups often understudied, such as women who are single parents, disabled or of colour, have the highest increase in unpaid care work and greatest deterioration in wellbeing.

An Exploration and Description of the Impact of COVID-19 on Women's Employment in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the issue of gender inequality in the labour market in relation to greater risks of unemployment and financial vulnerability. The shift to remote work altered responsibilities for domestic labour among partnered couples and single parents, as did the impact of closed schools, child care centres, and more. Disruptions to economic and social arrangements of South African women were no different than what other women in similar situations experienced in other countries. This study sought to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, with respect to employment, work-life balance and family responsibilities. A qualitative study within a constructivist paradigm, with a multisite, instrumental case study design was used. Data were collected from participants using both a survey questionnaire and a structured interview. A sample size of 172 was sought for the questionnaire and 26 qualitative interviews were conducted guided by data saturation. Quantitative questionnaire data were analysed using SPSS (version 27) for descriptive and inferential statistics. Thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews was done using NVIVO for coding and categorising. Black women, particularly from the informal sector, were found to be more adversely affected than those in formal employment by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study contributes to understanding the effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on women’s employment, work-life balance and family responsibilities.

RESURGENCE OF INTEREST IN VALUE EDUCATION FOR INCULCATION OF VALUES IN STUDENTS

Values are important as they bring quality to life. They guide human behaviour. Values permeate all aspects of human thought and actions. Values are the guidelines that each society lives by. Without values we cannot visualize a perfect and ideal society. The modern industrialized societies are experiencing the serious erosion of values. Few reasons are breakdown of joint families to nuclear families, single parenting, working mothers, loosening of parental control, role of TV & social media, effect of westernized education, lack of moral and religious education etc. The deterioration of values is creating many serious social and ethical conflicts in society. Life will be chaotic and disastrous in the absence of values. Swami Vivekanand has rightly said, “Excess of knowledge and power, without holiness, makes human beings devils.” Therefore, a coherent and an operationally viable value system should be developed. Man-value-education is a sacred triangle-where education is a vital medium to inculcate, values in students. Education is a subject of prime importance to the country’s progress. Parents and teachers make maximum impact on the personality of a child. Not only the teachers in charge of moral instructions but every teacher whatever subject they teach must necessarily accept their responsibilities for building character of the students. A comprehensive programme of value education is imperative in order to preserve, maintain and advance the position of our country. The entire process of education should centre on values. Several committees and commissions have been formed. They gave a number of suggestions in favour of value education. Values are a lifelong quest and must be inculcated in children at home by the parents, in school by teachers, peer group, media and society at large. The present system of education needs to be focussing on giving value education in its true sense because education without values is a waste of money, energy and time. Education is thus the means to achieve the goals of progress and prosperity.

Family and Stigmatization: Coping Experience of Persons with Substance Use Disorders in North Central Nigeria

In northern Nigeria, stigma has been used as a means of discouraging drug use because of the claim that substance users are responsible for their choices, in this line many families also adopted the same measure as a way of chastising family members involved in drug use. This qualitative study on stigma investigated the personal experiences of 40 people with a history of drug use who are receiving treatment in a facility. The study used a purposive sampling technique to obtain information from participants through interviews. Statistically, this study also obtained data from 261 participants admitted to the same facility over 7 years ago. From this population, 59.4% were diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), while 3.8% were diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder comorbid mental illness. Compare to females, there were more males at 85.1%. Furthermore, 55.0% are between the ages of 16 to 30 years of age, making it the highest age group that participated in the study. On marital status singles made up the highest number at 86.4%, participants raised by a single parent were 2 which is .9%. Based on family type, the mean obtained was 1.18 and SD of .387 these participants were grouped into a monogamous and polygamous family. Two hypotheses raised in this study predicted that “there is likelihood that person with substance use disorder will have a stigmatized experience” and “Persons with substance use disorder will have ways to cope with stigmatization” were tested to be significant, the Nvivo software was used in analysing the data obtained from the interviews. The outcome of the study suggests that family members are often the first point of stigmatization for drug-using persons in most families in North-central Nigeria.

Changes in parenting behavior in the time of COVID-19: A mixed method approach.

This study was designed to explore mothers' perceptions about changes in parenting behavior in the middle of the pandemic COVID 19 period. Based on the convergent mixed-method design and Parental Stress model, we illustrated these changes by taking into account the impact of the pandemic perceived by mothers and the resources they had available. Research on parenting changes was important in the Romanian context because, in that challenging period, there were no regulations to safeguard parents, especially single parents as mothers. Mothers experienced increased levels of stress, some of them having to leave their jobs to stay at home with their children. Other mothers needed to work from home and in the meantime to take care of their children. In this context we wanted to illustrate the possible changes that occurred in their parenting behavior during the pandemic period. Results from the quantitative survey showed that there is a moderate correlation between the negative impact felt by mothers and the negative changes in their parenting behavior, and this correlation was diminished by a series of resources such as: social support, parenting alliance, or high income. Qualitative data provided better understanding of mothers' parenting behavior by showing that mothers shared both positive and negative experiences during the pandemic, regardless of the general trend mentioned. As shown by the quantitative data, the qualitative data also showed that mothers who felt more strongly the impact of the pandemic reported more negative changes in their parenting behavior. The positive changes most frequently stated involved expressing affection and communicating more often on various topics, carrying out leisure activities or activities meant to help with the personal development of the child, and involving children in domestic activities. Mothers mostly described negative aspects such as too much involvement in school life, increased control and surveillance of children, especially when it comes to school related activities and to the time children were allowed to spend on their digital devices. These changes led to conflicts and sometimes, mothers resorted to discipline practices. In addition to the resources identified in quantitative research, mothers with higher education and medium-high income also turned to specialized resources (psychologists, online courses, support groups) in order to manage conflicts, them being able to see the challenges of the pandemic as an opportunity to develop and improve the relationship with their children.

Validation of a parent-proxy, obesity-specific Health-Related Quality of Life measure - sizing them up - in Singaporean adolescents seeking obesity treatment

Background Condition-specific measures of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) are more sensitive than generic tools. Sizing Them Up (STU) is a parent-proxy, obesity-specific HRQoL measure which was found to be reliable and valid internationally, but has yet to be utilised in Singapore. Objectives Our study aims to i) validate STU in adolescents seeking obesity therapy in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH); and ii) determine demographic factors associated with STU scores. Methods We recruited 91 adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years old and their parents from KKH between June 2022 and January 2023. Parents completed STU and the generic Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) upon recruitment, and repeated STU at least 2 weeks later. Results 65% of participants were males, with a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 32.3 ± 5.1 kg/m2 and mean age of 13.6 ± 1.8 years old. STU demonstrated strong internal consistency (overall Cronbach’s α = 0.85) and moderate test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.30-0.70). There was high correlation between STU scores and i) the adolescents’ BMI; and ii) equivalent domains of PedsQL, suggesting moderate to strong construct and convergent validity respectively. Indian adolescents, lower parental education level and single parents were associated with poorer STU scores. Conclusion STU is a reliable, valid obesity-specific HRQoL measure in a local clinical population of adolescents undergoing obesity therapy, and can help clinicians to understand parents’ impression of the impact of obesity on their child. Knowing the demographic variables associated with STU can enable clinicians to identify adolescents whose HRQoL are disproportionately affected by obesity.

Australian Youth Self-Harm Atlas: spatial modelling and mapping of self-harm prevalence and related risk and protective factors to inform youth suicide prevention strategies.

Suicide prevention strategies have shifted in many countries, from a national approach to one that is regionally tailored and responsive to local community needs. Previous Australian studies support this approach. However, most studies have focused on suicide deaths which may not fully capture a complete understanding of prevention needs, and few have focused on the priority population of youth. This was the first nationwide study to examine regional variability of self-harm prevalence and related factors in Australian young people. A random sample of Australian adolescents (12-17-year-olds) were recruited as part of the Young Minds Matter (YMM) survey. Participants completed self-report questions on self-harm (i.e., non-suicidal self-harm and suicide attempts) in the previous 12months. Using mixed effects regressions, an area-level model was built with YMM and Census data to produce out-of-sample small area predictions for self-harm prevalence. Spatial unit of analysis was Statistical Area Level 1 (average population 400 people), and all prevalence estimates were updated to 2019. Across Australia, there was large variability in youth self-harm prevalence estimates. Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia had the highest estimated state prevalence. Psychological distress and depression were factors which best predicted self-harm at an individual level. At an area-level, the strongest predictor was a high percentage of single unemployed parents, while being in an area where ≥30% of parents were born overseas was associated with reduced odds of self-harm. This study identified characteristics of regions with lower and higher youth self-harm risk. These findings should assist governments and communities with developing and implementing regionally appropriate youth suicide prevention interventions and initiatives.

Prenatal maternal PTSD as a risk factor for offspring ADHD: A register-based Swedish cohort study of 553 766 children and their mothers.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly heritable, though environmental factors also play a role. Prenatal maternal stress is suggested to be one such factor, including exposure to highly distressing events that could lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study is to investigate whether prenatal maternal PTSD is associated with offspring ADHD. A register-based retrospective cohort study linking 553766 children born in Sweden during 2006-2010 with their biological parents. Exposure: Prenatal PTSD. Outcome: Offspring ADHD. Logistic regression determined odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ADHD in the offspring. Adjustments were made for potential covariates, including single parenthood and possible indicators of heredity measured as parental ADHD and maternal mental disorders other than PTSD. Subpopulations, excluding children with indicators of heredity, were investigated separately. In the crude results, including all children, prenatal PTSD was associated with offspring ADHD (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.37-2.34). In children with indicators of heredity, the likelihood was partly explained by it. Among children without indicators of heredity, PTSD was associated with offspring ADHD (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.30-4.14), adjusted for confounders. Prenatal maternal PTSD is associated with offspring ADHD regardless of indicators of heredity, such as parental ADHD or maternal mental disorder other than PTSD. The association is partly explained by heredity and socioeconomic factors. If replicated in other populations, preferably using a sibling design, maternal PTSD could be identified as a risk factor for ADHD.

The Effect of Parental Involvement of Working and Non-Working Parents on Education above the Standard in CBSE Schools in Dubai

This research goal was to find out how parental involvement and academic achievement relate to elementary school students (grades 1–5) enrolled in CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) institutions. The basic education curriculum at CBSE schools, which is known for its demanding academic standards and emphasis on holistic development, necessitates parental engagement. This researchprimarily looks at the impact of working parents and non-working parents on academic results, considering the daily amount of time that these parents spend with their kids studying. Since kids spend so much time with their families outside of school, family relationships are expected to significantly affect their academic performance. Therefore, the research goal was to examine the connection between a child's academic achievement and their parents' involvement in their schooling. To determine the level of parental support and its impact on academic success, 140 primary school parents, including single parents who stay at home and those who work, filled out a Microsoft Forms questionnaire. Hence, a quantitative research approach was used in the study.

НЕПОЛНЫЕ СЕМЬИ В РЕГИОНАХ РОССИИ: МАСШТАБЫ И СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

The subject of the study is single-parent family as one of the main types of modern Russian family. The purpose of the paper is to study, based on monitoring and analysis of regional data, social profiles of low-income single-parent families in Russia. The research methods are systematic and comparative approaches, structural analysis and synthesis, statistical processing of information, induction and deduction, abstraction, and specification, etc. The following scientific and practical research results were obtained: a significant similarity was revealed in the social profiles of low-income single-parent families and single-parent families at risk of poverty; the main causes of poverty in incomplete families are identified, the main ones being the unemployment of a single parent and the insufficient level of wages of working mothers. The results of the analysis of the modal characteristics of singleparent families with low income can be used by federal executive authorities and executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation when updating measures to reduce poverty in the field of promoting the employment of single parents.

Strategies for Safeguarding Children from Abuse and Maltreatment in Dysfunctional Families. An Analysis Study of Traditional Authority Chimwala, Mangochi District.

This study analyses strategies to safeguard children from abuse and maltreatment in dysfunctional homes, with a focus on identifying key risk factors, assessing the effectiveness of various interventions, and examining the role of legal and policy frameworks. Through quantitative approach, the study reveals that children in dysfunctional families are at significant risk due to unstable environments, parental mismanagement of anger, and inconsistent care. Specifically, children experience frequent changes in living situations, leading to insecurity and anxiety. In 55% of cases, parental anger is misdirected at children, resulting in fear and behavioural issues. Psychological abuse, including constant criticism and emotional manipulation, severely impacts children’s mental health, while inconsistent care due to financial difficulties, mental health issues, and single parenting affects 30% of children. Additionally, frequent arguments or aggression in 25% of these homes create a tense atmosphere detrimental to children’s emotional development. Furthermore, 35% of parents exhibit abusive behaviors under extreme stress, causing profound psychological trauma. The study assesses the effectiveness of various intervention programs. The top 30% of programs achieve the highest effectiveness, significantly reducing abuse rates through well-funded, rigorously evaluated approaches. Legal and policy frameworks play a crucial role in protecting children, prioritizing their best interests through appropriate custody arrangements and mandatory reporting of abuse. Continuous oversight and collaboration between legal and social services are essential. The study concludes with recommendations to enhance program design, strengthen legal frameworks, address parental stress, and promote public awareness. Further research is suggested to explore long-term impacts and effectiveness of interventions in various contexts.

Detecting Cold Pool Family Trees in Convection Resolving Simulations

AbstractRecent observations and modeling increasingly reveal the key role of cold pools in organizing the convective cloud field. Several methods for detecting cold pools in simulations exist, but are usually based on buoyancy fields and fall short of reliably identifying the active gust front. The current cold pool (CP) detection and tracking algorithm (CoolDeTA), aims to identify cold pools and follow them in time, thereby distinguishing their active gust fronts and the “offspring” rain cells generated nearby. To accomplish these tasks, CoolDeTA utilizes a combination of thermodynamic and dynamical variables and examines the spatial and temporal relationships between cold pools and rain events. We demonstrate that CoolDeTA can reconstruct CP family trees. Using CoolDeTA we can contrast radiative convective equilibrium (RCE) and diurnal cycle CP dynamics, as well as cases with vertical wind shear and without. We show that the results obtained are consistent with a conceptual model where CP triggering of children rain cells follows a simple birth rate, proportional to a CP's gust front length. The proportionality factor depends on the ambient atmospheric stability and is lower for RCE, in line with marginal stability as traditionally ascribed to the moist adiabat. In the diurnal case, where ambient stability is lower, the birth rate thus becomes substantially higher, in line with periodic insolation forcing—resulting in essentially run‐away mesoscale excitations generated by a single parent rain cell and its CP.

Emerging Social Waqf Model for the Welfare of Pandemic Orphans

The increasing number of COVID-19 orphans in Malaysia poses an alarming threat to the socio-economic fabric of the nation. Hence, policymakers are confronted with this escalating dilemma, as the surging population of COVID-19 orphans could lead to a rise in problems, such as child sexual abuse, children dropping out of school and suicide. The pandemic of orphans as one of the hidden tragedies of COVID-19 has triggered the need for a sustainable social intervention that can guarantee the socio-economic protection and psycho-emotional care of orphans, especially in Muslim societies. Moreover, the reported number of orphans in the world is over 140 million children, with almost six million pandemic orphans arising from COVID-19 deaths across the globe. Recent studies also suggest that some of the children in orphanages in Malaysia are malnourished from skipping breakfast, lack dental care and even basic needs because of limited funding. Nevertheless, social waqf has been receiving significant attention as an Islamic social intervention to cater to vulnerable members of society. Studies have shown that Islamic religious institutions and organisations have been sustained through the waqf system. The enormity of the challenge posed by the COVID-19 orphans is such that some activists have been calling on the government to adopt the children into its social scheme. Overwhelmed by the socio-economic challenges arising from the pandemic, the government has also been appealing to private stakeholders to extend their social mission to the care of pandemic orphans. It also requires funding for individual families willing to provide care and protection for orphans. Hence, this highlights the need for an appropriate intervention to take care of the pandemic orphans. This study conducts a qualitative analysis of the potential of social waqf interventions for orphans’ care. Extensive desk research on the classical evidence of the socio-economic protection of orphans in Islam was detailed. The study explores the Islamic guidelines for fostering orphans through kafala (custody), for fostering orphans and children without biological parents. From the findings, the study proposed a Waqf model useful for providing social welfare intervention and adequate financial support for the sustainable care of orphans' needs through social workers, orphanages, foster care families, and further empowerment of orphans with needy single parents.

Assessing Health Equity in Partnership with Children's Mental Health Organizations: Considerations Before the Implementation of Parenting Programs.

Understanding and addressing how an individual's social, political, economic, and cultural context affects their ability to achieve optimal health is essential to designing and implementing interventions. Before evaluating two parenting programs, in partnership with four children's mental health organizations, we used the Health Equity Impact Assessment tool (HEIA) to identify groups that may experience unintended health impacts, as well as generated mitigation strategies to address these impacts. HEIA activities included a review of the published literature, a review of organizational documents, key informant interviews with staff (n = 12) and other related community service providers (n = 7), and a geographic information systems analysis. All sources of evidence were considered and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Summary reports were shared with all partners. A range of groups were identified as at risk of experiencing unintended health impacts, including caregivers who are racialized, immigrants, Indigenous, living with mental health issues or addictions, dealing with intellectual challenges and/or low literacy levels, survivors of childhood trauma, single parent families, or families experiencing financial difficulties. Unintended health impacts were sorted into 6 main themes which fell under the overarching themes of accessibility of the programs and cultural appropriateness. Mitigation strategies as well as innovative strategies already being applied by participating organizations are discussed. Although this HEIA focused on parenting programs, the findings address equity issues applicable to the provision of a wide spectrum of children's mental health services.

Predicting Social Adjustment Based on Academic Performance and Academic Self-Concept in Children of Single Parents

Objective: The current study aimed to predict social adjustment based on academic performance and academic self-concept in children of single parents. Methods and Materials: This research was applied and descriptive-correlational in nature. The study population consisted of all students (ages 12 to 15) in Sanandaj during the academic year (2020-2022), among whom 200 students were selected using a purposive sampling method. For data collection, the Pekl and Weisman Social Adjustment Questionnaire (1999), the Salehi Academic Performance Questionnaire (2015), and the Yes Yesen Chen Academic Self-Concept Questionnaire (2004) were used. For inferential statistics analysis, simultaneous multiple regression was performed using SPSS version 23. Findings: The findings indicated that the t-test for significance in regression for both academic performance and academic self-concept was significant at the level of less than 0.01. Additionally, academic performance and academic self-concept could explain 37.1% of the variance in social adjustment. Therefore, based on the components of academic performance and academic self-concept in children of single parents, their social adjustment can be predicted. Conclusion: Given the findings of this research on the relationship between social adjustment and both academic performance and academic self-concept, it is essential for educational interventions and counseling to consider the level of social adjustment among psychologists and educational counselors.

Pola Komunikasi Orang Tua Tunggal dalam Berinteraksi dengan Anak di Medan Tembung

This study aims to analyze the communication patterns used by single parents in interacting with children in the city of Medan Tembung. Single parents are individuals who play a dual role as parents and at the same time earn the sole breadwinner in the family. This study involved a number of single parents in the Medan Tembung City area and analyzed the communication patterns they use in their daily interactions with their children.This study uses qualitative methods with data collection techniques through in-depth interviews and participatory observation. The results of this study found several challenges faced by single parents in interacting with children, such as time constraints, physical and emotional fatigue, and differences in needs and expectations between parents and children. Despite this, single parents still try to maintain good communication with their children.In conclusion, this study provides an overview of the communication patterns of single parents in interacting with children in the city of Medan Tembung. The results of this study can provide a better understanding of the dynamics of communication in single-parent families, and are expected to contribute to the development of more effective communication strategies and support positive relationships between single parents and children. In addition, this research will also found differences in communication patterns between single parents who are separated and single parents who are separated by death.

Psychosocial Burden and Coping Abilities of Caregivers of Children with Sickle Cell Disease Attending Government-Owned Tertiary Health Care Facilities in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria

Objective: Sickle cell disease is a chronic inherited haematological disorder affecting predominantly people of African, Arab and Indiana ancestries with the highest reported burden of 150,000 children in Nigeria. The chronicity and physical and psychosocial complications of the disease pose a significant psychosocial burden on children and their caregivers. This study assessed the psychosocial burden and coping abilities of primary caregivers of children with sickle cell disease. Method: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in two public tertiary health institutions in Ogun State. Semi-structured interview-based validated questionnaires were administered to assess their psychosocial and health burden. The coping ability of the caregivers was determined. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. Results: Two hundred and twenty-four primary caregivers were interviewed. The moderate to severe psychosocial burden was 34.4%. Some (21.4%) found it difficult to cope with the care of the children and 12.1% believed it had a severe impact on their health. Major factors reported were frequent hospitalization, emergencies, school absenteeism, crisis and hospital bills. Caring for these children caused a general atmosphere of tension and marital disharmony in 17.4% and 17.9% of the respondents, respectively. The stress level was higher among female caregivers, low socio-economic class, single parenthood and older caregivers. Female child, age and severity of illness had a significant impact on the burden and coping levels. Conclusion: The caregivers experienced some psychosocial burden and difficulty in coping. Frequent hospitalization and the high cost of health care placed significant strain on them.

THE LIFESTYLE OF SINGLE MOTHERS IN THE EAST COAST OF MALAYSIA: THE IMPACT ON THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING

This study focuses on the health challenges and support mechanisms for single mothers in Malaysia, a demographic that faces unique socio-economic issues. Employing a quantitative approach, the research uses a self-report questionnaire to gather data from 20 single mothers in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu. Analysis reveals that these mothers, predominantly Malay, Muslim, and widowed, face significant health risks including chronic diseases, cardiovascular issues, and psychological strain, exacerbated by factors like financial stress and societal stigma. Physical health challenges among single mothers include an increased prevalence of chronic diseases due to stress and lack of self-care. The study corroborates global trends of health deterioration in single parents, with a specific focus on conditions like back pain, chest infections, and cardiovascular issues. Psychological wellbeing is also a critical concern, affected by factors such as sleep disturbances, financial stress, and societal perceptions. Government initiatives like BKIT provide financial support, but often fall short of addressing the complex needs of this demographic. Community support, while advocated by Islamic teachings, shows a gap in practical implementation. The study highlights the need for more effective strategies to enhance community support. The research uncovers that the number of years without a spouse significantly impacts the financial and overall well-being of single mothers. The limited financial resources affect their access to healthcare and their ability to afford essential treatments. Social support systems in Malaysia are found to be lacking, with non-governmental organizations playing a crucial role in advocacy and support. The study concludes that single mothers in Malaysia face multifaceted challenges that require holistic approaches from government, researchers, and society. The paper proposes expanding research to include diverse demographic representations, longitudinal studies, and qualitative exploration of religiosity. The recommendations emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of the experiences and challenges of single mothers, advocating for more inclusive and supportive environments.