Family Quality of Life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Issue 1 (23rd December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aldersey, Heather M.; Francis, Grace L.; Haines, Shana J.; Chiu, Chun Yu
• Is Part Of: Journal of policy and practice in intellectual disabilities. Volume 14:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2016-12-23
• Subjects: Africa -- Democratic Republic of the Congo -- family quality of life -- FQOL scale -- intellectual disability -- Kinshasa; Mental retardation -- Periodicals; People with mental disabilities -- Services for -- Periodicals; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Learning disabilities -- Periodicals; 362.205
• DOI: 10.1111/jppi.12189
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-1122

Abstract

Abstract: There is a critical need to create a reliable, relevant, and culturally appropriate measure of Family Quality of Life (FQOL) in order to evaluate family outcomes and related national family support mechanisms in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This study explores Congolese conceptions of FQOL and examines the appropriateness of adapting a common FQOL measurement tool for use in a Congolese context. Data are derived from four focus groups, conducted with 21 family members of persons with disabilities and 2 family advocates in Kinshasa, DRC. Participant conceptions of FQOL were highly similar to common understandings of FQOL globally. Participant discourse identified poverty and resiliency as potentially crucial underlying factors in FQOL in the DRC. FQOL is an important concept to measure in the DRC. Measurement must take poverty and resiliency into consideration.