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An Examination of the Impact of Culture on Early Intervention Programmes—An Islamic Arabic Perspective from Jordan

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Abstract

This study looks into the cultural and social influences on the provision of early intervention (EI) programmes in Jordan, namely the perspective on disability from an Islamic Arabic culture. The aim is to examine the perspectives of Jordanian parents and occupational therapists on the influence of their cultural understanding of disability on the provision and use of EI programmes. A qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews with seven parents of children with disabilities using EI programmes, and five EI occupational therapists was used. The results provide an insight into the Jordanian cultural perception of disability which includes three themes: ‘It is the will of Allah’, ‘Social stigma’, and ‘Extended family role’. The resulting themes coincide with the general Islamic Arabic perspective revealed in previous literature, with emphasis on the direct impact of the parents’ cultural views on their involvement in their child’s intervention. This is an important contribution to the limited literature on the cultural and religious view of parents on EI programmes within Islamic Arabic countries.

Abstrait

Cette étude examine les influences culturelles et sociales sur l’application de programmes d'intervention précoce (EI) en Jordanie, surtot la perspective sur le handicap d'une culture arabe islamique. L'objectif est d'examiner les perspectives des parents et des ergothérapeutes jordaniens sur l'influence de leur compréhension culturelle du handicap sur l’application et l'utilisation des programmes d'intervention précoce. Une méthode de recherche qualitative utilisant des entretiens semi-structurés avec sept parents d'enfants handicapés utilisant des programmes d'intervention précoce et cinq ergothérapeutes de d'intervention précoce a été utilisée. Les résultats donnent un aperçu de la perception culturelle jordanienne du handicap qui comprend trois thèmes : « C'est la volonté d'Allah », « Stigmate sociale » et « Rôle de la famille élargie ». Les thèmes qui en résultent coïncident avec la perspective arabe islamique générale révélée dans la littérature précédente, en mettant l'accent sur l'impact direct des opinions culturelles des parents sur leur implication dans l'intervention de leur enfant. Il s'agit d'une contribution importante à la littérature limitée sur la vision culturelle et religieuse des parents sur les programmes d'intervention précoce dans les pays arabes islamiques.

Resumen

Este estudio analiza las influencias culturales y sociales en la provisión de programas de Intervención Temprana (EI) en Jordania, principalmente, la perspectiva de la discapacidad desde una cultura árabe islámica. El objetivo es examinar las perspectivas de los padres jordanos y los terapeutas ocupacionales sobre la influencia de su comprensión cultural de la discapacidad en la provisión y el uso de los programas de EI. Se utilizó un diseño de investigación cualitativo que utilizó entrevistas semiestructuradas con siete padres de niños con discapacidades que usaban programas de IE y cinco terapeutas ocupacionales de IE. Los resultados brindan una visión de la percepción cultural jordana de la discapacidad que incluye tres temas: "Es la voluntad de Alá", "Estigma social" y "Rol de la familia extendida". Los temas resultantes coinciden con la perspectiva árabe islámica general revelada en la literatura anterior, con énfasis en el impacto directo de las opiniones culturales de los padres sobre su participación en la intervención de sus hijos. Esta es una contribución importante a la literatura limitada sobre la visión cultural y religiosa de los padres sobre los programas de IE en los países árabes islámicos.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Applied Health Science, The Hashemite University, P.O Box 330127, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan

    Nisrin Alqatarneh

  2. Division of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK

    Carolyn Dunford

  3. Department of Occupational Therapy, European MSc in Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Tafelbergweg 51, 1105 BD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Debbie Kramer-Roy

Authors
  1. Nisrin Alqatarneh
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  2. Carolyn Dunford
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  3. Debbie Kramer-Roy
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Correspondence to Nisrin Alqatarneh.

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Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Interview guide for parents’ group

  1. 1.

    Tell me how was your child first diagnosed?

  2. 2.

    What did you think about your child’s disability then? How do you feel about it now?

  3. 3.

    Do you face challenges with your child’s disability in the community?

  4. 4.

    How long have you been using an Early intervention programme?

  5. 5.

    How did you hear about the Early Intervention programme?

  6. 6.

    Can you describe to me your overall experience in the EI programme?

  7. 7.

    Did the EI team describe the situation of your child to you or provide you with any written information?

  8. 8.

    Can you describe the nature of the collaboration between you and the EI team?

Interview guide for Therapists’ group

  1. (1)

    Do you think EI is known in Jordan? By doctors? By families? By Occupational Therapists?

  2. (2)

    How do you think parents are referred to EI programmes?

  3. (3)

    What is the parents’ view of their child’s disability when they start EI?

  4. (4)

    In your opinion, what should be the role of the family in the EI programme?

  5. (5)

    In your experience, do EI have an active role in the programme?

  6. (6)

    What can affect parents’ role in the EI?

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Alqatarneh, N., Dunford, C. & Kramer-Roy, D. An Examination of the Impact of Culture on Early Intervention Programmes—An Islamic Arabic Perspective from Jordan. IJEC 54, 401–419 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-022-00328-9

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