The impact of caring for children with mental retardation on families as perceived by mothers in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE To assess how families perceive the positive and negative impacts of caring for a child with mental retardation. METHODS The quantitative descriptive study was conducted from January to August 2007 and comprised 54 families attending a private day-care centre for children with special needs in Karachi, Pakistan. The Kansas Inventory of Parental Perceptions was used to assess mothers' perceptions on the impact of caring for a child with mental retardation. Positive contributions, social comparisons with others, understanding of disability and perception of control were assessed. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Mothers reported positive contribution to family life as a result of caring for a child with mental retardation (Mean: 2.95 +/- 0.37). There was an acceptance of the situation and a trend towards upward favourable comparison with other families (Mean: 3.13 +/- 0.07). CONCLUSIONS Contrary to earlier studies exploring the impact of caring for a child with disabilities having largely focused on negative contributions, the study highlights some positive contributions.