More than 160 thousand Ukrainian women provide round-the-clock care for children with disabilities on their own, while simultaneously performing the roles of nurses, social workers, and sole breadwinners. However, according to analyses by the NGOs “Epiprosvita” and “Academy of Cognition”, this lifestyle forces most of these families to balance on the verge of survival.
According to the results, a significant number of mothers spend more than 40 hours a week caring for a child, which corresponds to full-time employment. Because of such attachment, women are deprived of the opportunity to work and have a stable income. At the same time, state payments cover only a fifth of the real costs of treatment and social needs. This forces families to constantly seek additional resources through charitable organizations.
Under such conditions, women have practically no opportunity to work and provide a stable income. At the same time, state assistance covers only up to 20% of the actual needs for treatment, rehabilitation, and social support, so mothers are forced to seek additional funds on their own, in particular through charitable foundations.
The study also showed that about 35% of mothers raise children alone. The main factors in the breakdown of families are psychological pressure after a diagnosis, financial hardship, and cases of domestic violence. Even in complete families, the load is not always distributed equally, because only half of the parents can fully replace the mother in caring for the child.
Almost 40% of the surveyed mothers are displaced women who, due to their IDP status, have lost their jobs and access to medicine. In villages, they are also effectively isolated. The lack of support is critical: 25% of women have no one to turn to for help, and 70% are deprived of time to relax. Social loneliness is also striking – 35% live for weeks without live communication, and 40% do not receive emotional support.
The financial situation of most families borders on poverty: income usually does not exceed 20,000 UAH per month and consists mainly of social benefits or part-time jobs. Rehabilitation costs absorb almost all funds, making savings impossible. The result is a difficult psychological state: 45% of mothers suffer from anxiety, 40% have signs of depression, and over 50% have symptoms of parental burnout.
In addition, about 15% of respondents report thoughts of self-harm.
The authors of the study emphasize that this situation has consequences not only for individual families but also for the economy as a whole. Women aged 30-45, at the peak of their professional activity, are forced to leave the labor market due to a lack of systemic support.
At the same time, a significant part of them is ready to work on a flexible schedule, remotely, or part-time. However, this is hampered by a lack of affordable healthcare services, the risk of losing social benefits, and instances of employer discrimination. As a result, the great potential of this group of women remains unfulfilled.
