Search

The purpose of this study was to explore how parents support the health behaviours of their child with a disability, and their motivations for registering their child in a health promotion program for children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Using a descriptive qualitative design, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with individual parents (n = 8) and one group (n = 3) to explore their experiences of health promotion for their child with a disability. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify themes and patterns to develop an understanding of parental perspectives. Three themes were identified in the analysis of parents' experiences supporting their children in health behaviours and registering them in a disability health promotion program: (1) Parents struggle to meet all of their child's health promotion needs; (2) Parents recognize the social components of healthy behaviours; and (3) Health promotion opportunities tailored for children with disabilities are limited. These themes were not mutually exclusive and had overlapping factors that influenced parental experiences. Parents experience many challenges supporting the health behaviours of their children with disabilities. This study reinforces the need for accessible, developmentally appropriate, social health promotion programs for children with disabilities. Children with disabilities frequently demonstrate significantly higher sedentary behaviours, lower rates of physical activity and consumption of high-fat foods than their typically developing peers. Promoting healthy behaviours such as healthy eating and physical activity among children with disabilities and their families is therefore crucial to the child's physical and psychosocial wellbeing. Parents of children with disabilities have sufficient health literacy and knowledge but report a lack of appropriate opportunities and strategies to support their child in developing healthy behaviours. Parents need increased availability and accessibility of socially inclusive programs that promote healthy behaviours for children of all physical and cognitive abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]