Other Titles
Community Strengths: A Global Partnership to Support Caregivers of Children with Special Needs in Ghana [Title Slide]
Abstract
Purpose: To conduct a community-based needs assessment with Ghanaian caregivers of children with disabilities and collaboratively develop strategies to address identified gaps.
Methods: A community-based participatory action research approach, between a U.S. university’s global health initiative and the Africa Interdisciplinary Research Group, was used to engage Ghanaian community members including mothers from a cerebral palsy support group, a schoolteacher, a school board representative, pediatric and community health nurses, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, an orphanage caregiver, and a reverend overseeing the orphanage. Data were collected through focus groups or individual interviews. Thematic analysis identified core themes reflecting needs and community strengths, guided by a positive empowerment framework emphasizing existing assets and opportunities for support. Teams worked together to develop plans to bridge the identified gaps.
Results: Seven focus groups or interviews took place fall of 2025. Five interconnected themes emerged, revealing both the challenges and resilience of caregivers. Participants described diverse definitions of disability shaped by medical, spiritual, and cultural interpretations. Stigma and social exclusion limited children’s access to healthcare and education. Participants identified needs related to assistive devices, mobility, malaria prevention, nutrition education, and medical care. Education, inclusion, and community support were strongly emphasized. Teams identified and outlined interventions to support the Ghanaian caregiver community. Nursing students gained experiential learning in culturally sensitive care, advocacy, and ethical engagement.
Conclusion: Findings underscore the value of community-engaged partnerships in addressing the needs of children with disabilities in low-resource settings. Future work and research include determining feasibility and acceptability of the planned interventions with our community partners to foster sustainable, locally led strategies to improve the wellbeing of children with disabilities and their caregivers at an international level.
Notes
References:
Amo-Adjei, J., Essuman, R., Nurzhynska, A., Deliege, A., Sharma, G., Iddrisu, I., & Nikoi, C. (2023). Experiences of parents and stakeholders in caring for, and supporting children with special needs in Ghana. PLoS One, 18(3), e0281502. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281502
Gomda, A., Sulemana, N., & Zakaria, H. (2022). Access to education for persons with disabilities in Ghana: A review. Environmental Sciences Proceedings, 15(1), 50. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4931/15/1/50
Hervie, V. M. (2023). Social inclusion of children with intellectual disabilities in Accra, Ghana: Views of parents/guardians and teachers. Children and Youth Services Review, 147, 106845. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106845
Olusanya, B. O., Halpern, R., Cheung, V. G., Nair, M. K. C., Boo, N. Y., & Hadders-Algra, M. (2022). Disability in children: A global problem needing a well-coordinated global action. BMJ Paediatr Open, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001397
Olusanya, B. O., Kancherla, V., Shaheen, A., Ogbo, F. A., & Davis, A. C. (2022). Global and regional prevalence of disabilities among children and adolescents: Analysis of findings from global health databases. Frontiers in public health, Volume 10 - 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.977453
Sigma Membership
Iota Iota
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Interprofessional or Interdisciplinary, Public and Community Health, Caregivers, Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ghana
Recommended Citation
Platt, Christine Rae; Thomas, Michael; Thatcher, Brandon; and Johnson, Ashlee, "Community Strengths: A Global Partnership to Support Children with Disabilities in Ghana" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 259.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/259
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-02
Community Strengths: A Global Partnership to Support Children with Disabilities in Ghana
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: To conduct a community-based needs assessment with Ghanaian caregivers of children with disabilities and collaboratively develop strategies to address identified gaps.
Methods: A community-based participatory action research approach, between a U.S. university’s global health initiative and the Africa Interdisciplinary Research Group, was used to engage Ghanaian community members including mothers from a cerebral palsy support group, a schoolteacher, a school board representative, pediatric and community health nurses, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, an orphanage caregiver, and a reverend overseeing the orphanage. Data were collected through focus groups or individual interviews. Thematic analysis identified core themes reflecting needs and community strengths, guided by a positive empowerment framework emphasizing existing assets and opportunities for support. Teams worked together to develop plans to bridge the identified gaps.
Results: Seven focus groups or interviews took place fall of 2025. Five interconnected themes emerged, revealing both the challenges and resilience of caregivers. Participants described diverse definitions of disability shaped by medical, spiritual, and cultural interpretations. Stigma and social exclusion limited children’s access to healthcare and education. Participants identified needs related to assistive devices, mobility, malaria prevention, nutrition education, and medical care. Education, inclusion, and community support were strongly emphasized. Teams identified and outlined interventions to support the Ghanaian caregiver community. Nursing students gained experiential learning in culturally sensitive care, advocacy, and ethical engagement.
Conclusion: Findings underscore the value of community-engaged partnerships in addressing the needs of children with disabilities in low-resource settings. Future work and research include determining feasibility and acceptability of the planned interventions with our community partners to foster sustainable, locally led strategies to improve the wellbeing of children with disabilities and their caregivers at an international level.
Description
This community-based project in Ghana explored caregivers’ experiences supporting children with disabilities. Through focus groups and interviews, participants described cultural stigma, limited access to care, and strong community resilience. Findings highlight the importance of culturally informed, collaborative nursing partnerships that empower families and promote inclusion, improving wellbeing for children with disabilities.