An ethnographic study of caregiving at a daycare centre for developmentally challenged children

Abstract

In this qualitative study the researcher explores the experiences of various caregivers at a day care centre for developmentally challenged children. This study also attempts to draw a distinction between the experiences of formal and informal caregivers’ experiences. The study is underpinned by two assumptions: 1) that in order to obtain a rich understanding of a phenomenon, the views and voices of a variety of individuals need to be considered and 2) that cultural values and practices play a significant role in the way individuals experience a certain phenomenon. The experiences of both formal and informal caregivers are documented using thematic analysis. An analysis of the participants’ global themes revealed that “education/learning/skills development” and “communication barriers” were common themes among both participant groups. Each participant group also expressed unique experiences such as “being a parent”, “becoming a foster parent” and “being useless as a professional-in-training”. Focal areas for further research are highlighted.