An exploratory study of Saudi parents' perceptions and beliefs about institutional and home care for children with disabilities

Quality care is critical to the quality of life and well-being of persons with disabilities. However, children with disabilities face unprecedented challenges which include access to assistive technology and rehabilitative devices, social exclusion, and negative attitudes in their various care settings. The present qualitative study seeks to understand parents' perceptions of home or institutional care for children with disabilities. The study utilized an exploratory qualitative approach paradigm with five focus groups in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Framework data analysis identified opposing and supporting perspectives for home and institutional-based care. Beneficial aspects of home care relate to cultural upbringing and the opportunity to acquire social and daily living skills. Families believe there are benefits of institutional care because such care settings have specialists and resources to support persons with disabilities. They argue for these resources to be linked to disability cases in families to optimize the development of children with disabilities. The study concluded that a dedicated care team to support families to cater to the needs of their children with disabilities at home is preferred over institutional-based care.