To explore the lived experiences of parents caring for children living with autism spectrum disorder at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
Approach:
Research Method: An explorative qualitative research approach was employed, using purposive sampling to interview 10 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Data Collection: Data were collected using an interview guide and analyzed through thematic content analysis.
Key Findings:
Parents face profound emotional, social, psychological, and financial challenges.
Many participants reported experiences of stigma, spiritual accusations, and marital difficulties associated with caregiving.
Parents demonstrated resilience through coping strategies, including behavioral adaptations, reliance on faith, and consciously disregarding negative societal attitudes.
Interpretation:
The findings highlight the need for comprehensive support systems, including psychological counseling, marital therapy, and rehabilitation support services, to assist parents in navigating the complex challenges of caregiving.
Limitations:
The study's sample size was limited to 10 parents, which may not represent the broader population.
The findings are context-specific to Ghana and may not be generalizable to other regions.
Conclusion:
These findings highlight the need for coordinated support systems to reduce parental burden and enhance well-being.
Longer initial prescriptions, use of multiple benzodiazepines, and long-acting agents were associated with delayed discontinuation in a retrospective population-based cohort study.
From signing bonuses and loan repayment programs to workforce initiatives and physician support resources, these trends reflect some of the strategies organizations are using to recruit and retain physicians in a competitive health care labor market.
