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Awareness of Speech and Language Therapy amongst Pakistani women in Edinburgh

Awareness of Speech and Language Therapy amongst Pakistani women in Edinburgh. Alia Yasin* and Ineke Mennen** *NHS Forth Valley, **Bangor University. Overview:. Background Awareness of healthcare Attitudes towards disability The aim of the study The methodology The results The conclusion.

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Awareness of Speech and Language Therapy amongst Pakistani women in Edinburgh

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  1. Awareness of Speech and Language Therapy amongst Pakistani women in Edinburgh Alia Yasin* and Ineke Mennen** *NHS Forth Valley, **Bangor University

  2. Overview: • Background • Awareness of healthcare • Attitudes towards disability • The aim of the study • The methodology • The results • The conclusion

  3. Research shows importance of parental involvement/awareness identifying difficulties in child’s development benefits the therapy process Many parents from ethnic minority backgrounds disadvantaged by lack of knowledge of and ability to use health system (e.g. Crutchley et al. 1997; Stow and Dodd, 2003) They often “did not know how to access professionals’ help, were not aware that they needed to, or were not willing to do so” (Crutchley, 2000, p72). Awareness of healthcare

  4. Disability stigmatised among some cultures, presenting a barrier between those who need help and those who can provide it (Glogowska, 1998) Different cultures have varying perceptions of childhood difficulties which may affect parental expectation of language development (Law, 1992). Some cultures put blame on child with communication difficulty (Bebout and Arthur, 1992) These attitudes are sometimes taken to explain low service uptake amongst minority ethnic families. Attitudes towards disability/disorder

  5. Why Pakistani females? • Pakistanis form the largest minority ethnic group in Edinburgh (Census, 2001; Mennen & Stansfield, 2006) • Culturally, it is the female members of this group who tend to provide the day to day care of children • There is no specific information about SLT service awareness in this group, but it is thought that attitudes towards disability in Asian families (Beresford et al. 1996) causes lower service uptake in this minority ethnic group (Bywaters, 2003)

  6. Target population • 90%Punjab province in Pakistan (Pakistan Society of Edinburgh) • 1/3 housewives completed questionnaire in Urdu • Language spoken most often with family: • 36% Urdu • 34% English • 30% Punjabi • Other languages: • 40% Urdu • 17% Punjabi • 35% English • 2% Pahari/Mirpuri • 6% none

  7. To investigate awareness of childhood communication difficulties and the SLT service provision in Pakistani females in Edinburgh To investigate attitudes towards disability in this ethnic minority group, which may affect their willingness to seek professional input Establishing levels of awareness and attitudes towards disability would inform attempts to empower this particular group to access SLT services Aim

  8. Methodology • Questionnaires and interviews with 110 Pakistani females, aged 16 and over • Participants contacted through visiting weekly social gatherings within the Pakistani community, such as Nari Kallyan Shagho (NKS) • Four main areas investigated: • Participant descriptors (occupation, age, whether or not they have children) • Awareness of child speech and language development and communication difficulties • Awareness of Speech and Language Therapy • Attitudes towards communication impairment

  9. Majority (52%) of women would expect a child to start talking by age 1 More so in women with children Child talking at age 1? Child not talking at age 2 is… Results • Majority (66%) considers a child not talking by age of two as having a difficulty • More so in women with children

  10. Most awareness of hearing impairment, followed by learning difficulties dysfluency Down’s syndrome dyslexia autism Housewives were generally least aware (except hearing impairment) Communication difficulties

  11. Awareness of SLT service

  12. Perceived role of SLT

  13. “...the health visitor is professional advice, but motherly advice is advice given with experience so it’s comforting...both are important”. In answer to the question Would you seek professional advice if a difficulty is suspected?the majority (90%) of respondents said yes A total of 13% would not seek professional advice, they were all in the age group 46+ Attitudes towards seeking professional advice

  14. Attitude towards seeking professional advice

  15. Feelings of shame • All interviewees showed an understanding of why people feel ashamed with comments such as: • “...culturally in Pakistan if there’s a problem they try sort it out internally...it is taboo, but prayer alone can’t solve everything” • “...my daughter just had mumps...everyone would stare making me feel uncomfortable and feeling the need to explain it was just mumps all the time...no one wants their child to be stared at like that”.

  16. Summary of results • Large no. of women aware of the SLT service, but lower awareness of exact role of SLT • Lower awareness of speech & language development and causes of communication difficulties • Significant number would be ashamed to seek help • Particularly older women & housewives • Most would seek professional advice, but a significant number would turn to a family member instead. • Results from the questionnaires & interviews complement each other.

  17. Conclusion • Overall good level of awareness – 70% • Confusion around exact role and communication difficulties. • Established foundation level of awareness of SLT service and communication difficulties, and attitudes towards disability. • Further research on how to increase awareness & involvement • Identify groups at risk • Research on most appropriate means of gaining new information to increase awareness & involvement

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