Institutional effects on spiritual and socioeconomic life of parents of the disabled children: a case of AIC-Bethany crippled children hospital of Kenya

Abstract

For a long time, the plight of people living with or/and caring for disabled persons has been overlooked. The purpose of this study was to explore the institutional effects of Bethany on the spiritual and socio-economic life of parents of the disabled children. Four one-day focus group discussions were held with forty-four parents of disabled children attended to by the hospital, in four clinic areas. Observations were also made both at the hospital and during mobile clinics conducted by the hospital.

The key factor that emerged from the study was that the hospital, through its various Programs, has either directly or indirectly influenced parents' life both spiritually as well as socio-economically. From the study it emerged that the hospital's spiritual component is vital in influencing parents' spiritual and socio-economic aspects of life. To spiritually transform lives of patients and their caretakers, it is important that the hospital address their social, emotional, physical, economic and cognitive aspects first. But for the hospital to be able to achieve this, the spirituality of its staff is paramount.

From the findings, recommendations were made on how the hospital can better meet the needs of parents, while still focusing on their disabled child.