Experiences of families caring for mentally handicapped children at the Bana ba Thari School in the Polokwane Municipality of the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Background:The experiences of families living with the mentally handicapped childrenwho attended the Bana Ba Thari School in the Polokwane Municipality of the Limpopo Province were never evaluated and, therefore, the experiences of families werenot known. Theaim:The aim of this study wasto describe the experiences of the families caring for the mentally handicapped children who attended theBana Ba Thari School in thePolokwane Municipality of theLimpopo Province, South Africa. Study methodology:A qualitative phenomenological research approach was used.Data was collected from 23 families who cared for their mentally handicapped children by conductingsemi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data wasaudio recorded and field notes were written down. Data was analysed using Tech’s open coding method forqualitative research.After the Medunsa Research and Ethics Committee had given ethic clearance for this study to be conducted, the Department of Education also gave permission for the study to be conducted.After the Medunsa Research and Ethics Committee had given ethic clearance for this study to be conducted, the Department of Education also gave permission for the study to be conducted.Ethical considerations and measures to ensure trustworthiness were observedand adhered to while conducting the study. The results:The results showed that the parents lackedadequateknowledge about mentally handicapped children which ledto poor interaction.The study also revealed a gap of knowledge from various professions likedoctors andeducators which ledto poor intervention and delay of therapy for the mentally handicapped children. The study also revealed the psychological impact on the parents and siblings.Parents worriedabout the future of their mentally handicapped children, which led to their denial andanxiety while the siblings became depressed. Parents also experienced a physiological impact, socio-economic problems, lack of resources at school like material for rehabilitation, and lack of transport to take their children to school every day. In addition,it was found that most of the parents and siblings didnot get continuing psychological support. vi Conclusion and recommendations:It is recommended that government and agencies should provide assessment and therapy facilities for mentally handicapped children and their parents. It is also recommended that professionals like doctors and educatorsstill need to undergoin-service training with regard to mentally handicapped learners to enable them to make proper decisions or to execute accurate interventions.