Experience lived in mothers/fathers carers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

The experiences of mothers/fathers carers of children with autism spectrum disorder is little known in Nicaragua, this issue has been anonymous and only people close to a case of autism understand what it means to care for these children. In such a way that the present study aimed to understand the lived experience of mothers/fathers carers of children with autism spectrum disorder, in the city of Esteli, second semester 2016. The type of study is qualitative and phenomenological of Exploratory type, the sample was formed by a father and four caregivers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; And five experts working with them. These were selected using the string or snowball technique. The type of sampling is non-probabilistic and for convenience. The theoretical methods that were used are the inductive, method of analysis-synthesis; And the empirical methods were the in-depth interview and the semi-structured interview. The most relevant results obtained in terms of experiences are that, in their entirety, the mothers/parents caregivers at the time of learning the diagnosis have similar reactions as confusion, sadness, loss, guilt, pain, depression, denial, impotence, Despair, low self-esteem and concern. It was possible to understand that the lived experience of the caretaker mothers/parents is mainly to go through the stages of mourning, since in all cases, according to the stories obtained, they face the loss feeling, as if their son/daughter has dead.

Keywords: Experience lived, mothers/fathers carers, autistic spectrum disorder, mourning, psychosocial repercussions.