Review of caregiving practices in BRICS countries in context of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) are all developing nations whose landscapes are changing and economies are witnessing growth and progress. However, these nations abound with certain challenges, with creating impactful changes in the area of disability being one. Literature has emphasised the difficulties that individuals with disability are confronted with. These can be expected to become exacerbated when systems of support are not equipped enough to handle the multitude of challenges that may arise when the complexity of disability is not understood in all its shades. Moreover, it becomes evident through the lens of the family systems theory that the impact of disability is not restricted to the individual. Rather, the effects permeate the lives of family members and caregivers. Researchers in the field of psychology have attempted to understand these challenges that caregivers of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder are faced with. While these adversities remain, they are likely to become exacerbated by very real factors including the disproportionate distribution of resources, gap in creating robust support systems, limited focus on well-being of caregivers, paucity of healthcare facilities and widespread effects of the global coronavirus pandemic. The current review aims to examine the ambit of these risks, which appears to be wide for a community of individuals who are marginalized in several ways. Alongside, an attempt has been made to capture the lived experiences of caregivers bringing up a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as they navigate through the process of caregiving. This review brings forth significant findings from existing literature and explores ways in which these challenges can be combated to create safer spaces.