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Unmet Needs of Male Caregivers of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Unmet Needs of Male Caregivers of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Allyson Lynch, Valerie Raziano, Katie Feehan, Eileen Thompson, Philip Massey and Renee Turchi
Maternal and child health journal, v 25(12), pp 1992-2001
Dec 2021
PMID: 34652597
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03248-7View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

Adolescent Caregivers Child Child Health Services Chronic Disease Health Services Needs and Demand Humans Male Social Support Surveys and Questionnaires
The caregiving experiences and unique health needs of male caregivers of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) are not well described. This study seeks to understand potential unmet health needs and attitudes toward supportive resources from the perspective of a sample of male caregivers of CYSHCN. This mixed-methods study recruited a convenience sample of 30 men with CYSHCN who receive care for a chronic medical condition from primary care medical homes in Pennsylvania. We conducted semi-structured interviews (SSI), administered quantitative surveys to caregivers, and produced a thematic analysis. The SSI explored the health needs of male caregivers, assessed attitudes toward and preferences regarding supportive resources, and garnered their advice to other caregivers regarding parenting and health care system navigation. Participants' median age is 41 years (IQR: 33, 44), and most (80%) reside full time with their CYSHCN. Most male caregivers deprioritized their own emotional, mental, and physical health needs to support the needs of their families. Many male caregivers articulated interest in seeking emotionally supportive resources (not time-intensive). They advised other male caregivers to remain involved in the medical care and wellbeing of their CYSCHN and to openly seek and receive emotional support despite the daily challenges they face. Male caregivers of CYSHCN experience intense daily stress and express the need for emotionally supportive resources. Programs designed to facilitate such support may benefit from flexible formats (time and location) and involve male caregivers of CYSHCN as both facilitators and participants.

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Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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