MJM, Vol 70 Supplement 1 September 2015
Predictive factors for unmet needs among parents of
children with disabilities (CWD) at support institutions in Kelantan
*School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, **School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the predictive factors and barriers for unmet needs among parents of children with disabilities (CWD) in Kelantan.
Methods: This mixed method study involved a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative design involved 226 parents of CWD who were registered to support institutions in five randomly selected districts in Kelantan. Biological parents with children age 18 and less was included in the study. A validated Malay version Family Health Survey questionnaire and a set of Performa were used to identify the unmet need and its predictive factors. The qualitative design involved 12 parents who gone through a series of in-depth interview to identify the barrier to unmet need. General linear regression was applied to determine the significant predictive factors and thematic analysis was used to identify the barrier.
Results: Type of institutions, marital status, socioeconomic status and educational status were identified as significant predictive factors for unmet needs. These factors were supported by the findings from qualitative part. Other predictive factors were age of the child, age of the child during diagnosis, type of disability and present of medical illness in the child.
Conclusion: The significant predictive factors for unmet needs were different based on type of needs. The results of this study can help agencies provide better service to meet the needs of parents of children with disabilities and help other researchers to develop more effective intervention programs.
Keywords: predictive factors, barrier, unmet needs, parents of children with disabilities, Kelantan
