Management of care-giving effects among mothers with CIDS in SOCSARGEN

• Main Author: Togonon, Lelanie D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Children with mental disabilities—Home care—Philippines—Mindanao Island; Parents of children with mental disabilities—Philippines—Mindanao Island; Medicine and Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6501; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/12859/viewcontent/CDTG004833_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This is a descriptive study of care-giving practices by mothers with children with intellectual disabilities. Ten mothers, purposively selected by way of non-probability sampling, were engaged in an in-depth interview using an interview guide. This study examined factors that influence the care-giving of mothers with CIDs, the care-giving by mothers for their children with IDs, the effects of care-giving on the mothers, and the management of negative effects by the mothers. In the course of their care-giving, mothers experience both positive and negative effects. The positive effects mentioned by the mothers encourage them further to carry on and do better in their care-giving; while the negative effects have to be managed and dealt with. To manage the negative effects, mothers commonly try various methods to work out the situation at hand such as calmly talking and explaining to their children, taking their children with them wherever they go, and providing for the needs of their children – education, therapy, and medical care. Also, they seek the support and cooperation of various people and groups foremost of which is their family for despite the mothers being the primary care givers to their children, care-giving for CIDs has become a family affair. Besides their families, mothers also seek the support of medical professionals, teachers, and other parents with CIDs, friends, organizations, and local government units, as they manage difficulties and negative effects of care-giving. The care-giving practices of the mothers in this study were influenced by many factors -- the occupation and education of the mothers, the needs of the children with IDs, and the desire of the mothers to prepare their children with IDs to care for themselves. The employment of the mothers on the one hand, provides financial sources for the needs of their children but on the other hand, limits the time they can give to their children. Also, the educational background of the mothers facilitates access to information that increases their awareness and improves their care-giving practices. Moreover, mothers endow their children with IDs with whatever their children need such as love, acceptance, and attention as well as behavioral guidance and supervision. Lastly, mothers train their children with IDs as they care for them in preparation for the time they can no longer care for them.