Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To find the relationship between quality of life of mothers of cerebral palsy children and child's motor functioning after at least 3 months of rehabilitation.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from August to November 2019. Total 35 cerebral palsy (CP) children and their mothers were involved. Assessment of mother's health done through Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and children's motor functioning through Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88).
RESULTS: While comparing the results of SF-36 in GMFM-88, we found that children's mothers with low GMFM score had a general health deterioration compared to children with higher GMFM score. Mothers who are having a child with cerebral palsy, with GMFM between 1-80 had to cut down the amount of time spend on work while mothers whose child's GMFM was between 1-20 were limited in kind of work and other activities as well as they accomplished less than she would like, and they didn't do their work as carefully as usual. Due to low GMFM (1-20) of kids' mothers even suffered from moderate level of body ache. Likewise, in children's mothers with lower GMFM ratings (1-20 & 21-40) have disturbed work intervention due to affected physical and emotional health. Similarly, social interaction has also been affected.
CONCLUSION: This study illustrates that mother of cerebral palsy patient deal with severe physical and mental fatigue. While paying attention only to children's issues, the health of caregiver mothers also needs special considerations.