IMPACT OF A SUPPORT GROUP FOR THE CAREGIVERS AT AN ORPHANAGE IN TURKEY

Pakistani orphanage caregivers' perspectives regarding their caregiving abilities, personal and orphan children's psychological wellbeing

BACKGROUND

Pakistan is home to 4.6 million children who have been orphaned. Limited data on caregiving in orphanages suggests that caregivers do not have specialized training and experience heavy workloads and high-stress levels. Supporting these caregivers to provide responsive and consistent caregiving can improve their well-being along with the psychological and physical development of children who have been orphaned. This research explored the main caregiving-related challenges faced by caregivers in orphanage settings, their professional and personal needs and perceived emotional and behavioural problems manifesting in children under their care.

METHOD

This research adopted a qualitative research design with a thematic analysis approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 caregivers who were currently caring for four to 12-year-old children in Pakistani orphanages.

RESULTS

Five main themes: (1) religiosity, (2) economic relief, (3) caregivers' needs and well-being, (4) caring for children who have been orphaned and (5) need for context specific training, emerged from the data, which included several subthemes. Findings revealed the presence of positive religious views regarding the upbringing and care of children who have been orphaned. Work-provided accommodation was an important economic relief. Caregivers' psychological, physiological and personal lives were affected by job-related stress and demands. Many helpful and unhelpful parenting practices were documented, and challenges such as children's verbal and physical aggression, stealing, non-cooperation and poor social skills were reported. The main professional issues included low salary, high numbers of children in care and lack of context specific professional caregiving training provided.

CONCLUSION

This study established the need for a tailored programme that suits the context specific caregiving needs in Pakistani orphanages to support the training and professional growth of caregivers and promote their wellbeing along with positive developmental outcomes in the children under their care.

Institutionalized child care experiences: the hidden side of work

OBJECTIVE

To know the caregiver's perception about the work/care with the institutionalized child.

METHODS

Qualitative research that used the Theory of Attachment and Symbolic Interactionism as theoretical references and the Grounded Theory as a methodological reference. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 caregivers of a child sheltering institution, in the year 2015. The analysis was performed from the open coding and categorization.

RESULTS

Care work aims to meet the needs of institutionalized children, focusing on food, hygiene and education. In addition, it is little recognized, which generates a feeling of devaluation in caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Continued qualification and support to the caregivers is indispensable for elaborating more effective and integral work/care strategies.

Institutional caregiver experiences in child care

ABSTRACT Objective: to know the experience of institutional caregivers in child care. Method: qualitative research that used the Attachment Theory and the Symbolic Interactionism. Fifteen caregivers were interviewed, in 2015, in a child care institution based in a municipality in the south of Brazil. Data were analyzed through content analysis. Results: two categories emerged from the study: Embracing the children in the institution; Helping children adapt to institutionalization. Institutionalization imposes several social ills, such as abandonment and violence. These must be faced by caregivers, generating sadness and revolt. In addition, institutionalization leaves a mark on the child’s life, which belongs to no one, nor has his individuality and subjectivity preserved. Conclusion and Implications for practice: it is necessary to provide caregivers psychological support and Permanent Education so that they are supported in the work, improving the conditions of care offered to the child.