Abstract:
background: The prevalence of disability is growing worldwide; however,
perceptions regarding disability are not well understood. The aim of this study
was to explore factors that influence the perception of disability among mothers
of children with disabilities who were attending a community-based rehabilitation
facility in Sri Lanka.
Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design was employed. Thirteen semi-
structured interviews were conducted with participants receiving rehabilitation
services at a community-based facility. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and
coded using software for qualitative data.
results: Three major themes emerged from the analysis: (i) level of family and
community support; (ii) spiritual and cultural interpretations of disability; and (iii)
outcomes of rehabilitation services. Perceptions of disability appeared to be
strongly influenced by the social, community and spiritual/cultural support structure
in which the mothers lived. In particular, the support from the participant’s spouse
emerged as a primary factor exerting strong influence on perception, and future
outlook, among the participants. Engagement in community-based rehabilitation
programming also reinforced positive perceptions, created a sense of hope among
participants regarding their child’s future, and established aspirations for future
education and employment opportunities alongside social integration.
conclusion: Knowledge of factors that influence the perception of disability can
inform future implementation of public-health and community-based initiatives,
and may improve social integration of children with disabilities in lower-resource settings
