MAGNITUDE OF PROBLEM OF PERSONS HAVING INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ITS IMPACT ON PARENTS AND THEIR UNMET NEEDS IN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

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.