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Research Article: Caregiver experiences of feeding children with developmental disabilities: a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis from India

Date Published: 2023-06-14

Abstract:
Objective We aimed to explore caregiver experiences of feeding children with developmental disabilities, in the context of it being influenced by biological, personal and social factors. Design This study applied a qualitative study design through focus group discussions (FGDs), using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Setting This study was conducted at the Child Psychiatry Unit of a tertiary care centre in South India, between March and November 2020. Participants Seventeen mothers of children with developmental disabilities, who provided written informed consent, participated in four FGDs. Results Three over-arching themes were identified. Feeding experience: (a) a tedious, confusing task; (b) disproportionate onus on mothers; (c) influenced by sociocultural norms. Conclusion Feeding can be a stressful activity for both caregiver and child, influenced by family structure and sociocultural belief systems. Considering caregivers’ emotional status, facilitatory and hindering environmental factors, and actively exploring strategies to promote the generalisation of strategies learnt into real-life outcomes are essential in tailoring deficit-specific feeding interventions.

Introduction:
Feeding difficulties are common in children with developmental disabilities like intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. They also tend to begin subtly and are under-recognised in such children. 1 The consequences of feeding difficulties are more for countries like India, where child mortality and malnutrition in children with developmental disabilities are higher in comparison to other countries. 2 Further, a host of ecological factors like low maternal literacy, lack of awareness about optimum…

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