Quality of Life among Primary Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy Living in Sarlahi and Rautahat Districts of Nepal.

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to determine the quality of life and factors associated with quality of life among primary caregivers of children with Cerebral palsy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried between primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in rehabilitation group and non-rehabilitation group. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data Results: Median age of caregivers was 34 years (age 20-70 years), and there was significant difference between age in two groups (p=0.028). 83 (86.5%) caregivers were female with significant difference between gender in rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation group (p=0.03). Majority of primary caregivers were mother 71 (74%) in both groups. Among all 96 caregivers, 78.1% of caregivers had poor quality of life (Score in questionnaire below 75% taken as poor quality of life).There was no significant difference between quality of life in rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation group (p=0.42). Factors associated with quality of life in rehabilitation groups was illiteracy (p=0.005), aggressive nature of child (p=0.050), uncooperative nature of child (p=0.025), poor knowledge about child condition (p<0.001), and low financial support (p=0.051). Similarly, factor associated with quality of life in non-rehabilitation group was gross motor function classification system level of child (p< 0.001) and more perceived stress (p=0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Majority of primary caregivers was mother and had poor quality of life and there was no significant difference between overall quality of life of caregivers in rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation group.