Psychological Experiences of Parents having a Child with Cleft Lip and Palate
View/ Open
Date
2020Author
Laksrini, SMT
Dilrukshika, WAD
Yapa, YMJM
Sirimanna, AAI
Saumika, MAR
Liyanage, N
Munidasa, KGPK
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Abstract:-Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) is one of
the most common congenital craniofacial
conditions globally. Parents’ who are having
Children with CLP are facing various types of
experiences. A qualitative study was
conducted to explore the parent’s
psychological experiences of having a child
with CLP. Twenty parents who take care of
children with CLP more than three months
were purposively recruited for this
phenomenological study. The study was
conducted at Dental Teaching Hospital,
Peradeniya and ethical approval was obtained
from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
University of Peradeniya. Data were collected
using semi-structured interviews and data
analysis was done using thematic analysis
method. Three major themes were emerged
from the data as excessive sorrow, fear
towards the surgery and coping with the
child’s birth defect. Not having the child that
parents expected to have, low body weight of
the child and sadness towards child’s future
with CLP were perceived as reasons for
excessive sorrow. Probable complication of
the surgery and lack of knowledge regarding
the surgery were reasons for fear towards the
surgery. Follow up treatments and family
supports were helped parents to coping with
the child’s birth defect. These main negative
adverse experiences and drawbacks help to
understand several hidden unpleasant
experiences of parents having a child with
CLP. Hence, it is needed to ensure the
importance of arranging social support
services for these parents which are one of the
neglected areas within the health care context
of Sri Lanka.