THE CARE GIVEN TO THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED CHILDREN AND THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING IN RUNYENJES CONSTITUENCY, EMBU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Children with motor impairments are a global concern. Their psychological wellbeing is of great concern for those living with them. This research was aimed at investigating the care given to these differently-abled children and their psychological wellbeing in Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County in Kenya. The study was guided by the following four research objectives; to investigate the influence of family care on the psychological wellbeing of the differently-abled children, to establish the relationship between residential institutionalized care and the psychological wellbeing of the differently-abled children, to assess the implications of educational care on the psychological wellbeing of the differently-abled children and to evaluate the psychological care offered to the differently-abled children and their psychological wellbeing in Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County, Kenya. The study was anchored on Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of needs and The Medical theory of disability. The study adopted Descriptive research design applying cross sectional method to collect data at one point in time. The study also applied a mixed methods approach involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The target population of the study was 80 children with motor impairments living in the families and institutions in Runyenjes Constituency, ten key informers that comprised of five chaplains and five guidance and counselling teachers of the institutions where these children are found. The study conducted a census study that involved all the participants in the target population. The study used purposeful sampling method to get vital information from the target population. The research tools were questionnaires for the differently-abled children and an in-depth interview guide for the key informers. The questionnaires had section A and B having five-point Likert scale questions designed by the researcher as per the objectives and standardized 42 PWB Ryff tools. The analysis of quantitative data was done using correlation analysis using SPSS Version 21. Data was presented in tables using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages for quantitative variables. The data collected from the interview guide was analysed thematically. The study found out that family care, residential institutionalized care and educational care influenced personal growth more than any other domain of psychological wellbeing of the differently-abled children. The male gender was also found to show higher scores in psychological wellbeing than the female gender. The interviews revealed that Mass and pastoral activities, occasional guidance and counselling and visits by well-wishers were some of the attempts to offer psychological care to the differently-abled children. The study recommended training, assignment of specialists, extra time and resources, and frequent interactions of the differently-abled children with other people for promoting their psychological wellbeing. Following its findings, the research recommended further assessment on the extent to which care should be given to the differently-abled children such that it doesn’t become excess to the point of decreasing their psychological wellbeing. The study also recommended further research on the psychological wellbeing in relation to gender.