Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study
Background Family interactions, which are always multi-faceted, are complicated further by family members with disabilities. In resource-poor settings, policies and programmes that address the needs of and challenges faced by families are often inaccessible or unavailable. Approximately 13% of the f...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Global Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2354009 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832096640750583808 |
|---|---|
| author | Elia Asanterabi Swai Haleluya Imanueli Moshi Sia Emmanueli Msuya Marie Lindkvist Ann Sörlin Klas Göran Sahlen |
| author_facet | Elia Asanterabi Swai Haleluya Imanueli Moshi Sia Emmanueli Msuya Marie Lindkvist Ann Sörlin Klas Göran Sahlen |
| author_sort | Elia Asanterabi Swai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Family interactions, which are always multi-faceted, are complicated further by family members with disabilities. In resource-poor settings, policies and programmes that address the needs of and challenges faced by families are often inaccessible or unavailable. Approximately 13% of the families in Tanzania have at least one member with a disability, yet family-centred research on caring for disabled children and adolescents is scarce in this context. Objective The aim is to explore the needs and challenges faced by families that care for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in the Kilimanjaro Region of north-eastern Tanzania. Methods This qualitative study had a constructivist grounded-theory design. In-depth interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide based on the social-capital framework, were conducted with 12 female participants aged between 24 and 80. A conceptual model of family needs, inspired by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, informed the analysis. Results Challenging needs were grouped into five categories, which were linked to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and related to the central concept of ‘adaptive adjustment’: (1) ‘barely surviving’; (2) ‘safety needs in jeopardy’; (3) ‘sociocultural protection’; (4) ‘self-esteem far beyond reach’, and (5) ‘dreaming of self-actualisation’. Conclusion Families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania have needs that extend beyond the available and accessible resources. Families can adjust and adapt by avoiding certain situations, accepting the reality of their circumstances and exploring alternative ways of coping. A sustainable support system, including social networks, is essential for meeting basic needs and ensuring safety. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-09e74be836994b7082ca85adbd9eb0a1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-09e74be836994b7082ca85adbd9eb0a12025-02-05T12:46:13ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802024-12-0117110.1080/16549716.2024.23540092354009Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory studyElia Asanterabi Swai0Haleluya Imanueli Moshi1Sia Emmanueli Msuya2Marie Lindkvist3Ann Sörlin4Klas Göran Sahlen5Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo)Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo)Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeUmeå UniversityUmeå UniversityUmeå UniversityBackground Family interactions, which are always multi-faceted, are complicated further by family members with disabilities. In resource-poor settings, policies and programmes that address the needs of and challenges faced by families are often inaccessible or unavailable. Approximately 13% of the families in Tanzania have at least one member with a disability, yet family-centred research on caring for disabled children and adolescents is scarce in this context. Objective The aim is to explore the needs and challenges faced by families that care for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in the Kilimanjaro Region of north-eastern Tanzania. Methods This qualitative study had a constructivist grounded-theory design. In-depth interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide based on the social-capital framework, were conducted with 12 female participants aged between 24 and 80. A conceptual model of family needs, inspired by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, informed the analysis. Results Challenging needs were grouped into five categories, which were linked to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and related to the central concept of ‘adaptive adjustment’: (1) ‘barely surviving’; (2) ‘safety needs in jeopardy’; (3) ‘sociocultural protection’; (4) ‘self-esteem far beyond reach’, and (5) ‘dreaming of self-actualisation’. Conclusion Families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania have needs that extend beyond the available and accessible resources. Families can adjust and adapt by avoiding certain situations, accepting the reality of their circumstances and exploring alternative ways of coping. A sustainable support system, including social networks, is essential for meeting basic needs and ensuring safety.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2354009paediatricspublic healthphysical disabilitieschallenging needsadaptive adjustment |
| spellingShingle | Elia Asanterabi Swai Haleluya Imanueli Moshi Sia Emmanueli Msuya Marie Lindkvist Ann Sörlin Klas Göran Sahlen Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study Global Health Action paediatrics public health physical disabilities challenging needs adaptive adjustment |
| title | Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study |
| title_full | Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study |
| title_fullStr | Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study |
| title_short | Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study |
| title_sort | adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north eastern tanzania a grounded theory study |
| topic | paediatrics public health physical disabilities challenging needs adaptive adjustment |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2354009 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eliaasanterabiswai adaptiveadjustmenttotheneedsoffamiliescaringforchildrenandadolescentswithphysicaldisabilitiesinnortheasterntanzaniaagroundedtheorystudy AT haleluyaimanuelimoshi adaptiveadjustmenttotheneedsoffamiliescaringforchildrenandadolescentswithphysicaldisabilitiesinnortheasterntanzaniaagroundedtheorystudy AT siaemmanuelimsuya adaptiveadjustmenttotheneedsoffamiliescaringforchildrenandadolescentswithphysicaldisabilitiesinnortheasterntanzaniaagroundedtheorystudy AT marielindkvist adaptiveadjustmenttotheneedsoffamiliescaringforchildrenandadolescentswithphysicaldisabilitiesinnortheasterntanzaniaagroundedtheorystudy AT annsorlin adaptiveadjustmenttotheneedsoffamiliescaringforchildrenandadolescentswithphysicaldisabilitiesinnortheasterntanzaniaagroundedtheorystudy AT klasgoransahlen adaptiveadjustmenttotheneedsoffamiliescaringforchildrenandadolescentswithphysicaldisabilitiesinnortheasterntanzaniaagroundedtheorystudy |