An Analysis of Families Experiences with Young Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) during COVID-19 Lockdown in Pakistan

Abstract

The shadow impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are critical, especially for children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDDs). Financial constraints and home confinement have increased the challenges for caregivers to meet the educational and health needs of children with IDDs. Hence, this research examines the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on families with IDDs children in rural Pakistan. Overall, 176 parents participated in this study and provided valuable responses through interview technique. Parents responded to five (05) open-ended questions. Results indicated that parents of children with IDDs are facing various challenges including financial constraints, social lockdown, deteriorated health conditions of their children, reduced or no health services, closure of educational institutes, negative behavioral impacts, and slow mental development. Still, a subset of parents also reported the positive side of lockdown, indicating that staying at home resulted in improved relationships. The findings of the study suggest that parents of children with IDDs are confronted with significant challenges that increase their stress.

Impacto del confinamiento en niños y adolescentes a partir de la pandemia de COVID- 19

“…Una investigación en Paquistán realizada por Mamoom y colaboradores (36) refiere que el beneficio del confinamiento de familias de niños con discapacidades Intelectuales y del desarrollo se restringe a pasar más tiempo con los hijos. Los padres desarrollan muy pocas actividades como jugar, reunirse en familia, hacer ejercicio, comer saludable.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Schoolchildren in Pakistan: A Review of Literature

“…Author and Year Findings 1. (Munir et al, 2021) Financial constraints, social isolation, deteriorated health conditions of their children, reduced or no health services, closure of educational institutes, negative behavioural impacts, and slow mental development are all challenges faced by parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Staying at home, on the other hand, results in improved relationships, according to respondents.…”

“…Some studies point out challenges that have been faced by schoolchildren and families. For example, Munir et al (2021) highlight that schoolchildren and families faced financial, psychological, and physical challenges, but on the positive side the relationships between family members often improved due to staying at home. Similarly, Mian and Chachar (2020) identify a variety of issues that were encountered by both children and parents due to restrictions that were imposed.…”

Nonmedical Barriers and Needs of Rural Children with Disabilities and Their Families in Asia: A Scoping Review

“…Four studies documented limited or unequal access to information on available services, assistance, and programmes offered by either NGOs or governmental agencies. Research in rural Pakistan found that families with disabled children had no channel to receive information on services available to them (Munir et al, 2021;Naz et al, 2010). Moreover, a study on the perspectives of disabled children and their mothers in rural Vietnam discovered that the application process for disability support services was not transparent and could only be accessed by families selected by the People's Committee (Ngo et al, 2013).…”

“…The most frequently mentioned need at the family level (10 out of 23 studies) was psychosocial support for caregivers, such as socioemotional support programmes for families (Richard, 2014), professional psychological counselling services (Maridal et al, 2021;Munir et al, 2021), direct training programmes on parental skills to better aid child development (Naz et al, 2010), peer support programmes for caregivers to share their experiences in a safe space (Ngo et al, 2013;Shang et al, 2011), and other forms of specific social support for mothers (Shang & Fisher, 2014). The second most identified (eight out of 23) need was financial support for families, such as implementing targeted poverty alleviation programmes (Kiling et al, 2019;Ngo et al, 2013) and providing economic resources for girls with disabilities specifically (Don et al, 2015).…”