Coping strategies of caregivers of children with chronic renal failure on automated peritoneal dialysis at a hospital in Gauteng, South Africa

Background Renal failure is a common chronic condition which affect both adults and children worldwide and is characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. There are several ways to treat kidney failure and one of the methods is automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), which is mainly used in children. Children with chronic renal failure are cared for by caregivers at home. When a child is diagnosed with chronic renal failure, the caregivers’ lives change drastically, and they must adapt to this change of caring for the child undergoing APD. Aim The study aimed at exploring and describing the coping strategies of caregivers of children with chronic renal failure on APD at the selected academic hospital in the Gauteng Province, South Africa. Methods An exploratory-descriptive design was used to conduct this study. The study used purposive sampling to select a total number of ten participants. These participants were invited for face-to-face interviews conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview questions were open ended to allow participants to provide rich information. A digital audio recorder was used to record the interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Five themes emerged from the data: Psychological coping strategies, social and emotional support systems, spiritual coping strategies, substance use as a coping mechanism and recommended informational support systems by caregivers. Conclusion Although caregivers use various coping strategies associated with caring for children on APD, they require additional effective coping strategies and support from the hospital, family members and support groups.