Effect of Childs’ disability on mothers’ mental health in Lagos state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background Caring for a child with a disability can be overwhelming due to the societal barriers people with disability face which makes them depend on people for daily survival, especially family members leading to increased child caregiving. In Nigeria, most parents, especially mothers, undergo various traumatic experiences figuring out what society and the future hold for their child with a disability, and this also affects their mental well-being.

Methods This mixed-method research made use of primary data which was collected through the survey and interview methods. It was analyzed using descriptive statistics to get the frequency and simple percentage of the respondents’ opinions which was represented with a simple bar chat. While thematic analysis was used for the interview, the results were used to triangulate the survey findings. The analysis of the in-depth information gained in this work was guided by the bio-psychosocial model of health and the social model of disability.

Results The research findings revealed that the majority of the mothers are stigmatized by their Childs’ disability which puts them away from social engagements like parties, religious centers, and family functions. The findings further revealed that increased parenting stress, loss of hope and social connectedness, and increased family dysfunction were also the effects of child’s disability on the mother’s mental health.

Conclusion The areas of effects identified by the research have shown the areas where progress, practice, and policy are needed to help these mothers achieve positive mental health, and also regular engagement with and support to the mothers will lead to improved health outcomes.