Examining Sibling Dynamics in Ghanaian Families Affected by Autism: A Qualitative Investigation in Accra, Ghana

The study was a phenomenological study which explored the relationship between siblings without autism and their siblings with autism in Ghana. The family systems theory served as the theory that guided the study. The population of the study entailed siblings and parents of children with autism in Accra. Five siblings and five parents were conveniently sampled from Accra, Ghana, for the study. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. The data were coded and analysed using the thematic approach. The results of the study showed that siblings without autism generally had positive attitudes towards their siblings with autism. This was observed in their willingness to support their siblings when there was a need for such support. It was further revealed that siblings without autism were found to mostly play the role of caregivers to their siblings with autism. Again, the study found that the presence of children with autism in families had some challenging impacts on siblings without autism. These challenging impacts include stigmatisation from members of society, psychological stress and fear of acquiring a disability. From the outcome of the study, it was recommended that professional guidance and counselling sessions should be organized for siblings without autism in families with children with autism. This was to make them well-equipped to deal with the challenges of taking care of their siblings with autism. The study also suggested that future research could focus on exploring the coping strategies used by siblings without autism and their families as they cater to their children and siblings with autism. This study concluded that siblings of individuals with autism in Ghana play very crucial caregiver roles in the lives of their siblings with autism with autism, however they go through psychological stress and social stigma because of their siblings with autism, and therefore require professional counselling on coping strategies.