Service development needs to promote caregiver empowerment for families raising children with developmental disabilities in Ethiopia and Argentina A qualitative comparative analysis

Caregivers of children with autism and other developmental disabilities (DDs) often experience challenges such as stigma and social exclusion; and are bound by poverty and limited access to resources. These challenges often lead to caregivers feeling disempowered: having limited choices and control in supporting their child.We studied how individual, community, or societal level contextual facilitators and barriers may influence caregivers’ empowerment journey in diverse income settings in two countries, Ethiopia and Argentina.We conducted a comparative qualitative study in Ethiopia (63 interviews) and Argentina (32 interviews). We used template analysis to compare data across settings.We developed three themes at macro, meso, and micro levels of context. National policies, institutions, social discourses, community awareness, stigma, and individual factors intersected in shaping caregivers’ sense of empowerment and agency in supporting their child. Caregiver initiatives remained local and informal in Ethiopia, while in Argentina formalised caregiver organisations worked towards claiming their rights. Despite challenges, caregivers saw themselves as the primary agents of change for their children in both cases. Empowerment interventions should aim at removing barriers that hinder caregivers from doing what they think is best for their child.