Experiences Caregiving Together: Optimising the Involvement of Fathers of Children with Disabilities in India

Nicole Bishop (1), Dr Raania Amaani (2), Professor Deepthi N Shanbhag (3), Professor Beena Koshy (4), Fairlene Soji (5), Associate Professor Kaaren Mathias (6), Dr Lorane Scaria (7), Professor Saju Madavanakadu Devassy (8), Francis Annuncia S (9), Shiva Mohan Rao (10), Dr Suresh Karuppannan (11), Professor Nathan Grills (12)
(1) The University of Melbourne, Australia,
(2) The University of Melbourne, Indonesia,
(3) St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, India,
(4) Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India, India,
(5) Christoffel Blinden Mission, India, India,
(6) University of Canterbury, New Zealand,
(7) Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala, INDIA, India,
(8) Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala, INDIA, India,
(9) Christoffel Blinden Mission, India, India,
(10) Christoffel Blinden Mission, India, India,
(11) a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:27:"The University of Melbourne";}, Australia,
(12) The University of Melbourne, Australia
https://doi.org/10.20372/dcidj.897

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Issue
Vol. 37 No. 1 (2026): Spring Issue
Submitted
July 29, 2025
Published
March 18, 2026
Keywords:
    paternal engagement, inclusive caregiving, cultural perceptions, gender dynamics, social inclusion, caregiver well-being
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Abstract

Background


While mothers are often the default caregivers of children with disabilities in India, emerging evidence highlights the importance of fathers’ engagement in caregiving, which may enhance child development and family wellbeing. However, paternal caregiving remains underexplored in low-resource settings.


Aim


To explore the caregiving roles, perspectives, and barriers experienced by Indian fathers of children with disabilities, using a large qualitative dataset from diverse geographic and cultural contexts.


Methods


This exploratory qualitative study involved 54 semi-structured interviews and 9 focus group discussions with fathers and other caregivers, conducted across eight sites in five Indian states. Participants were purposively sampled to capture a range of disability types (physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental, and mental health conditions) and caregiving experiences. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis in NVivo 14. The large sample size allowed for thematic saturation across diverse subgroups and regions.


Results


Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: fathers’ caregiving roles, the impact of caregiving, and support needs. Fathers’ involvement ranged from providers and decision makers to occasional primary caregivers, influenced by cultural beliefs, availability, skills, and emotional bonds. Caregiving shaped fathers’ self-perception, mental health, and family dynamics. Acceptance was higher when caregiving was viewed as purposeful. Barriers included stigma, rigid gender norms, limited inclusive infrastructure, and lack of tailored services. Fathers expressed the need for greater public awareness, emotional encouragement, and consistent, accessible disability services to support their roles and enhance outcomes for children and families.


Implications


Fathers are active but under-recognised caregivers in families of children with disabilities. Interventions must address regional, systemic, and emotional barriers to support father-inclusive care in India.

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Authors

Nicole Bishop
The University of Melbourne
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6304-847X
Dr Raania Amaani
The University of Melbourne
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5696-8910
Professor Deepthi N Shanbhag
St John's National Academy of Health Sciences
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2441-0584
Professor Beena Koshy
Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India
Fairlene Soji
Christoffel Blinden Mission, India
Associate Professor Kaaren Mathias
University of Canterbury
Dr Lorane Scaria
Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala, INDIA
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9992-2587
Professor Saju Madavanakadu Devassy
Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala, INDIA
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6188-9267
Francis Annuncia S
Christoffel Blinden Mission, India
Shiva Mohan Rao
Christoffel Blinden Mission, India
Dr Suresh Karuppannan
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:27:"The University of Melbourne";}
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5364-8347
Suresh.karuppannan@unimelb.edu.au (Primary Contact)
Professor Nathan Grills
The University of Melbourne
Author Biographies

Nicole Bishop, The University of Melbourne

Nicole Bishop is a public health specialist in research; project management and behaviour change communication located in the Asia-Pacific region. Based at the Nossal Institute for Global Health, her research focuses on community health and disability initiatives in India, while she holds sessional teaching and supervision roles at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Raania Amaani, The University of Melbourne

Raania Amaani is a public health master's graduate from the University of Melbourne and a medical doctor serving rural communities in Indonesia. In addition, she is a lecturer in Universitas Hamzanwadi, Indonesia. She has been involved in projects and research activities related to child public health, with a particular emphasis on parenting, nutrition, health equity, and the social determinants of health.

Professor Deepthi N Shanbhag, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences

Deepthi N Shanbhag currently works at the Department of Community Medicine, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences. She leads the Rural Community-Based Rehabilitation Services focused on disability, empowerment, and social integration, supported by Christoffel Blinden Mission, Germany. She has extensive experience in medical education, community engagement, and disability research, advocating strongly for families and caregiver.

Professor Beena Koshy, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India

Beena Koshy is a developmental paediatrician with academic interests in early childhood experiences, autism spectrum disorder and parenting styles based at Christian Medical College Vellore India. She holds the DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance ICPH fellowship. Her community-based research follows birth-cohorts longitudinally to understand influences of early childhood experiences on growth, development, cognition, behaviour and brain structures.

Fairlene Soji, Christoffel Blinden Mission, India

Fairlene Soji is a development professional holding Masters in Sociology and Post Graduate Diploma in Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR). She is affiliated with the Rehabilitation Council of India, the Nossal Institute for Global Health, the University of Melbourne, as expert member to develop competency-based curriculum design for community-based rehabilitation – National programme in the country. She is currently the Director for Impact and Knowledge Management at CBM India Trust, Bengaluru, Karnataka. She has been actively involved in research and publications focused on disability rights, inclusive policies, and community-driven development approaches

Associate Professor Kaaren Mathias, University of Canterbury

Kaaren Mathias is a public health physician who works and researches at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and in Uttarakhand, India. Her research focus is on promoting local and lived experience knowledge, for example through codesign and lived experience participation in community mental health and disability. She also engages actively with Burans, an initiative of Herbertpur Christian Hospital and other partners in Uttarakhand in developing and trialling group psychosocial interventions to prevent mental distress and promote mental health in communities.

Dr Lorane Scaria , Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala, INDIA

Lorane Scaria is a social worker and researcher specialising in mental health, disability caregiving, and public health interventions. She is an Australia India Research Students (AIRS) Fellow and a Sister Dr. Mary Glowrey Scholar, currently based at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kerala, India.

Professor Saju Madavanakadu Devassy, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala, INDIA

Saju Madavanakadu is the Principal of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Director of the International Centre for consortium research in social care (ICRS), and Vice President, International Consortium for Social Development. He is a distinguished academic with an extensive experience in research, teaching, and institutional leadership. He holds honorary fellow positions at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland since 2022 and 2023, respectively. His research interests span mental health, disability, and community-based interventions, with publications in reputed journals.

Francis Annuncia S, Christoffel Blinden Mission, India

Francis Annuncia S is a Disability Rehabilitation Consultant in India. She holds a postgraduate doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Science. With expertise in disability inclusion, capacity building, and community-based inclusive development, she actively contributes to research and training initiatives aimed at empowering rehabilitation workers and promoting inclusive development.

Shiva Mohan Rao , Christoffel Blinden Mission, India

Shiva Mohan Rao holds bachelor’s degree in journalism, Masters in Sociology & Human Resource from Bangalore University, presently working as Senior Officer Training & Accessibility Inclusion in Impact & Knowledge Management Department of CBM India Trust Bangalore. He has expertise in Disability Inclusive Programme Management, is a trainer in Community Based Inclusive Development and programme evaluator. He is also a lead access auditor under Accessible India Campaign of the Government of India.

Dr Suresh Karuppannan, a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:27:"The University of Melbourne";}

Suresh Karuppannan is working as a Public Health Medicine Trainee at the Nossal Institute for Global Health through the Victorian Public Health Medicine Training Scheme. He is currently developing a pilot program to encourage fathers to be more involved in caring for children with disabilities in India. This work builds on the Caring Together and DAD-CARE projects.

Professor Nathan Grills , The University of Melbourne

Nathan Grills is a public health physician working largely in India on disability, non-communicable diseases and health curriculum development and training at the Nossal Institute for Global Health. He is the Academic Director for India for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and an Academic Fellow with the Australia-India Institute.

1.
Bishop N, Amaani R, Shanbhag D, Koshy B, Soji F, Mathias K, Scaria L, Madavanakadu Devassy S, Annuncia F, Rao SM, Karuppannan S, Grills N. Experiences Caregiving Together: Optimising the Involvement of Fathers of Children with Disabilities in India. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 18 [cited 2026 Mar. 19];37(1):4-19. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/897
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