Liuda Istigečeva, Dainius Pūras, Aušrelė Matukevičiūtė
Abstract
Parenting is a natural ability of adult persons. The intuitive understanding of child’s needs and ability to ensure that his or her needs are met, alongside with adequate holistic development of a child defines parental competence, while its realization defines the expression of these competences. Special situation occurs, when people with mental health problems, including intellectual and mental disabilities become parents. They may have poor abilities to plan their actions and care for the child. Inadequate ability to care for the child, which often may be determined by weak expression of parental competence, is a risk factor that can disrupt the neurobiological development of child’s brain as well as development of his or her psychosocial and cognitive abilities. On the other hand, the state agencies should ensure that these parents receive services which support parents at risk and promote their parental competence. Methods: Review of literature, case report and metods of clinical observation. Research data are based on analysis medical documentation, results of psychodagnostic tests, analysis of attitudes of stakeholders towards problems of parenting competence, and other relevant data. Results: Conclusions and suggestions based on case report and analysis of the context of prevailing societal attitudes.
Keyword(s): child rights; child development; mental disorders; parental competence
DOI: 10.5200/398
Full Text: PDF