Adaptive adjustment to the needs of families caring for children and adolescents with physical disabilities in north-eastern Tanzania: a grounded-theory study

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive summary of the participants.

Participant’s age (years)	Marital status	District of residence	Residence area category	Child age (years)	Child sex	Relationship	Health-insurance coverage	Rehabilitation access
48	Married	Moshi Municipal	Urban	9	Male	Biological mother	Yes	Lost access to rehabilitation services
36	Married	Hai	Urban	7	Female	Biological mother	Yes	Lost access to rehabilitation services
54	Married	Moshi Municipal	Urban	18	Male	Biological mother	Yes	Yes
80	Widowed	Moshi Rural	Rural	6	Female	Grandmother	No	Lost access to rehabilitation services
33	Single	Moshi Rural	Rural	4	Female	Biological mother	No	Yes
43	Single	Same	Rural	6	Male	Biological mother	No	Yes
45	Separated	Same	Urban	9	Female	Biological mother	No	Yes
30	Divorced	Hai	Rural	9	Male	Biological mother	No	Lost access to rehabilitation services
52	Separated	Moshi Rural	Rural	18	Female	Biological mother	No	Never
38	Married	Rombo	Rural	9	Male	Biological mother	No	Lost access to rehabilitation services
49	Single	Moshi Rural	Rural	12	Female	Biological mother	No	Never
39	Married	Rombo	Rural	10	Male	Biological mother	No	Never

Figure 1. The theoretical model, delineating the core category of ‘adaptive adjustment’. This comprised several categories and subcategories.

Table 2. Examples of the coding process.

Text	Line-by-line coding	Selective coding	Axial coding	Theoretical coding
… taking care of this child is a huge cost, that is, it is very high. I tell you very clearly to this day he drinks fresh milk …	Caring for a disabled child is costly. Caring comes with costs. The child requires special nutritional attention. Food is expensive. Additional nutritional needs. An older child needs milk, like a small baby.	Nutritious food needed + Higher expenses for food + Additional food needed	Family prioritising food needs	Barely surviving
… with the suffering I went through with this child, I just don’t want to have a baby again. I thank God that he helps and protects me so that I can raise her …	The decision to have more children is affected. Suffering related to caring for a disabled child. Not wishing to have another child. Hesitant to have another child. Not ready to have more children. Seeking support from God. All focus on raising the disabled child.	Hesitant to bear more children + Afraid to suffer with another child + Worried about having children	Fear of bearing more children