Challenges Faced by Families of Children Living With Disability in Kasarani Constituency, Nairobi County

Abstract

The number of children born with disability has been progressively increasing over time since the year 1960. Children with chronic disability may require medical or psychological attention that may last for their entire lifetime. This attention requires enormous resources either from the caregivers or other sources to ensure they get the appropriate care. The purpose of this study was to establish the challenges faced by families of disabled children in Kasarani Constituency in Nairobi County. The study had three objectives: to examine the financial implications of raising disabled children on families in Kasarani Constituency; to establish the social challenges faced by families of disabled children in Kasarani Constituency and to investigate the healthcare challenges faced by families of disabled children. The study adopted a survey research design and data was collected through questionnaires and key informant interviews. The findings from the study revealed that some of the challenges facing families with disabled children include: expensive medication; depletion of family financial resources; rejection and abuse from society as well as long term healthcare challenges.