Availing services for developmental disabilities: parental experiences from a referral center in developing country

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Disabilities
• Rehabilitation Services

Background:

• Accessing rehabilitative services for children with developmental disabilities presents unique challenges for parents.
• Understanding parental challenges and satisfaction is crucial for improving service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the problems parents encounter when accessing rehabilitative services for their children with developmental disabilities.
• To assess the satisfaction levels of parents with the available rehabilitative services.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Child Development Clinic (CDC) in Northern India.
• 161 parents of children with developmental disabilities, receiving services for at least 3 months, completed a questionnaire.
• The questionnaire covered socio-demographics, problems faced, and satisfaction levels regarding rehabilitative services.

Main Results:

• 77.6% of parents reported problems accessing services, primarily difficulty in commuting (50%) and financial constraints (21.7%).
• Over 80% used public transport, with 19% traveling over 50 km; 29.8% faced difficulties bringing their child due to behavioral or physical issues.
• Despite challenges, 95% of parents graded their satisfaction as 3 or higher on a 0-5 scale.

Conclusions:

• Parents of children with developmental disabilities experience significant hurdles in obtaining rehabilitative care, including travel, logistical, and financial burdens.
• Despite these challenges, the majority of parents express considerable satisfaction with the rehabilitative services received.
• Improving service accessibility by addressing commuting and financial barriers is essential while acknowledging the high satisfaction rates.