Caregiver-centric interventions for family carers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in India - A scoping review

Caregiving for children with neurodevelopment disorders (NDDs) can be a lifelong process that takes hold of an individual's time, energy, and resources. This raises a question about the caregivers' needs and concerns and the extent to which they receive medical or psychological attention during caregiving. This scoping review examines the psychosocial interventions conducted in India for caregivers of children with NDDs. The search strategy involved analyzing published literature on interventions for caregivers of children with NDDs in India from online databases from 2013 to March 2023. Sixteen intervention studies were identified and categorized into child-centric, caregiver-centric, and family-based approaches. Most studies were limited to thesis publications and lacked peer-reviewed publications. However, there has been a gradual increase in caregiver-centric intervention studies since 2019, focusing on alleviating distress and promoting caregiver well-being. Approximately 87.5% (14 out of 16 studies) adopted intervention components focusing on the caregiver's outcomes and well-being. It can be concluded from the review that more applied research on caregiver-centric interventions is needed in India, focusing on the caregivers' concerns in depth. The study will provide insights into the importance of practicing caregiver-centric interventions and recommend healthcare providers and policymakers initiate policies, provisions, and programs that benefit the caregiver community.