Māori caregivers’ experiences of parenting a person with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Little has been written about the living experiences of Māori caregivers who parent children living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Te Iho Tātai-ā-Rongo (FASD) in Aotearoa. This study, of 14 Māori caregivers, focused on health and wellbeing and parenting strategies. Eight of the caregivers were whānau caregivers who were parenting children from extended family, and six other Māori caregivers were parenting children not known to them. Semi-structured interviews identified themes of hauora or wellbeing impacts, financial and employment issues, cultural practices, systems’ harms, FASD-informed parenting and systems’ changes needed. The findings show that Māori caregivers face great adversity in providing the best possible care for their children living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and that they sacrifice a great deal in terms of their health or finances, alongside battling for basic supports and resources for their children. They are also active advocates for systemic change for increased resources to help their families.