Phenomenological experiences of mothers of children with mental retardation in Mopani and Vhembe districts, Limpopo Province

Abstract

This study explored the phenomenological experiences of mothers of children with mental retardation in two special schools (i.e. Fulufhelo and Pfunanani). The former is in Vhembe while the later is situated in Mopani district in Limpopo province. A qualitative approach was followed and participants were selected using purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 24 members (12 for individual interviews and 12 for focus group) whose children were diagnosed with mental retardation at the time of the study. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The following psychological themes emerged from the study: mothers’ subjective understanding of mental retardation; mothers’ understanding of the causes of mental retardation; living with a mental retarded child; psychological reactions of mothers to a diagnosis of mental retardation and mothers’ causal explanation of mental retardation. The present study discovered that all families with mentally retarded children are directly or indirectly affected by this condition.