Effects of Gender Roles on Caregiving Experiences and Support Networks of Parents with Autistic Children in Voi, Taita Taveta County

Many African societies historically assign caregiving roles to women, a responsibility intensified when a child presents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study explored how traditional gender roles, positioning men as providers and women as caregivers, influence the lives of families in Voi, Taita Taveta County. Motivated by the constant emotional, social and medical support demands of autism, the survey addresses the disproportionate burden on mothers that restricts their labour market participation and reinforces patriarchal inequities. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological research design, the study documented the experiences of fifty-three married women and ten key informants, including healthcare professionals. Findings demonstrated that 46.3% of children frequently engage in repetitive behaviors, while 37.0% experience significant social communication challenges. Stigma remains a severe barrier, with 42.6% of parents experiencing overt labelling and 53.7% avoiding public spaces entirely. Formal support systems are profoundly inadequate; 38.9% of participants strongly disagree that government social protection is accessible. Spousal physical involvement is minimal, leaving mothers with a disproportionate physical burden. Conversely, peer WhatsApp groups and informal networks serve as critical emotional coping mechanisms. The study concludes that patriarchal divisions of labour worsen caregiver marginalization, recommending targeted gender-sensitive county policies and community sensitization.

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gender Roles, Unpaid Care Work, Social Stigma, Structural Inequalities, Taita Taveta County

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