Accounting for changes in family life of families with spina bifida children.

The use of time, division of household chores, and the use of resources outside the immediate family has been studied in 22 families with a spina bifida child aged between 4-6 years and compared with 22 families having a normal child of the same age group. In the families with a spina bifida child, both parents spent more time in child care, and depended more upon friends and parents and neighours. The mothers experienced lack of sleep and increased stress.