Parental Challenges in Providing Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs in Kaduna, Northwestern Nigeria

Background: The care of children with special health care needs is fraught with lots of challenges. Parents play a pivotal role in the provision of care for these children and bear a significant number of these challenges. Parental ability to cope with these challenges is vital to the wellbeing of the children. Method: The challenges encountered by parents in the care of their Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) in Kaduna, were assessed using a structured questionnaire and a M.I.N.I. module at an awareness workshop. Results: There were 44 males and 29 females (M: F, 1:5:1) with a mean age of 40.1 ± 10.3 years. Majority (45, 61.6%) were in the mid and lower social classes (III-V).The most identified parental challenges were economic and medical, indicated by all the parents. Others were social, stress and educational in that order. Type of child's disorder, severity of the disorder and parental social class were indicated by all the parents as contributory factors to their challenges. Conclusion: The parents indicated multiple challenges and demonstrated a need for access to a wide range of comprehensive support services. Keywords: Parent, Challenges, Children with Special Health Care Need