MAGNITUDE OF PROBLEM OF PERSONS HAVING INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ITS IMPACT ON PARENTS AND THEIR UNMET NEEDS IN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
RANJAN BHATTACHARYYA *
Department of Psychiatry, Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital, Berhampore, WB, India
MALAY KUMAR GHOSHAL
Department of Psychiatry, Medical College, Kolkata, India
DEBASISH SANYAL
Department of Psychiatry, KPC Medical College & Hospital, India
SUMITA BHATTACHARYYA
Department of Dermatology, IPGME & R, Kolkata, India
DEBABRATA MAJUMDAR
Department of Psychiatry, Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital, Berhampore, WB, India
SUPRIYA KUMAR MONDAL
Department of Psychiatry, Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital, Berhampore, WB, India
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Intellectual disability is the clearest example of the mixture of medical and social system models. People with intellectual disability do not represent homogenous groups. Their unmet needs and impact on parents as caregivers also vary especially with changing social milieu, socio economic status and ethnicity.
Objectives: To assess the disability of intellectually disabled and the nature and degree of impact on their parents.
Methods: The clinico-demographic profile of (n=102) intellectually disabled and intellectually average children and their caregivers compared. The impact of disability measured in NIMH-DIS scale.
Results: Mother’s experiences more difficulties than father in physical care (p < 0.03), health (p<0.02), career (p<0.03), sibling effect (p<0.04) and specific thoughts domain (p<0.04). Father’s experiences more trouble in support (p<0.02), financial (p<0.05), social (p<0.01), embarrassment/ridicule domains (p<0.02). There is no difference in Relationship domain (p=0.56) in between the parents. Higher patience (p<0.02) and empathy (p<0.04) among mother and higher tolerance (p<0.03) and sensitivity (p<0.04) has been found among mother. The impact on mother increases in physical care, health and specific thoughts domains whereas the impact on father increases in financial and embarrassment/ridicule domains.
Conclusions: Rehabilitation needs increase with severity of disability and impact on parents as caregivers. Appropriate assessment and finding out unmet needs can guide to formulate individualized treatment plan for them as well as to their parents.
Keywords: Intellectual disability, parents burden, NIMH DIS scale, rehabilitation needs