Being a parent to a child with diabetes: systematic review of qualitative evidence from Asia

Parenting a child with diabetes can be extremely challenging, impacting the parent’s mental health and life trajectory, which can impact the child’s health outcomes as well. Sociocultural background can further impact this experience, yet research in the Asian context is scarce. We aimed to synthesize the qualitative evidence exploring the experience of parents with children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Asian countries.

A systematic review was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases. Studies were included which followed a qualitative paradigm, were conducted in Asian countries on parents of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) below the age of 18 years.

The sample (n = 124 parents, age range = 21–54 years) was predominantly mothers, i.e., 93%. The common themes were navigating the diagnosis, psychological distress, financial strain, systemic healthcare challenges, the role of gender, stigma, and the coping strategies employed by the parents. Mothers predominantly assumed primary caregiving roles, often facing significant emotional and practical burdens in the short and long run.

Despite the scant research, the synthesis clearly outlines the profound challenges parents face and calls for culturally sensitive support systems to alleviate caregiver burden and improve outcomes for children with T1DM. Further research is needed with stronger theoretical frameworks and the South Asian population and countries require attention.