Caregiver Crisis and Coping Strategies Adopted By Parents of Children Living With Epilepsy in the GA South Municipality of Ghana.

Abstract

Caring for children who live with epilepsy can be very demanding, difficult and stressful burden for parents. Caregiver crisis and coping strategies adopted by parents of children living with epilepsy was explored to ascertain the crisis parents faced, the meaning they ascribed to epilepsy and caregiving and the resources at their disposal using the ABC-X family stress model as a guiding framework. A qualitative descriptive-exploratory approach was adopted for the study. Participants were purposively selected from the Ga South Municipality. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten (10) participants. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic content analysis. The right of participants was protected through ensuring voluntary participation and signing of informed consent. Methodological rigor included selecting parents with caregiving experience, peer scrutiny and prolonged engagement. Finding revealed crisis-precipitating elements were observed at the onset of illness and the warning signs made parents felt they were on the edge. They experienced social, physical and psychological crisis along with shifting expectation and role changes. Meaning of illness and caregiving was defined by spirituality and caregiving difficulties. Resources for dealing with the crisis were inadequate, resulting in financial burden coupled with expensive medications. Participants further mentioned the effects of the seizure on the growth of the children and disruption of school was a dent on education. Parents of children living with epilepsy need adequate support to deal with caregiving crisis. Cognitive and social interventions for these parents will facilitate a reorientation of meaning ascribed to the illness and caregiving experiences.