Haddada Ikram, El Arem Soumaya, Salah Aymen Hadj, Fredj Manel Ben, Fekih Aymen, Sayhi Tammem, Hedi Zaafrane Mouhamed, Sghir Mouna, Kessomtini Wassia
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Tahar Sfar University Hospital, Mahdia, Tunisia.
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
Pan Afr Med J. 2025 Jun 7;51:33. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2025.51.33.45979. eCollection 2025.
cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in childhood. Caring for a child with functional limitations and long-term dependence poses significant challenges for many families. Despite this, the experiences and needs of mothers of children with CP remain understudied. This study aims to assess fatigue, caregiving burden, psychological distress, and sleep disorders (SDs) among a group of Tunisian mothers of children with CP.
this cross-sectional study explored the well-being of Tunisian mothers caring for children with CP. Participants were evaluated using the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS), Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
a total of 71 participants were recruited. Of all participants, 39.4% reported moderate to severe burden, and 53.5% reported severe fatigue. The prevalence of clinically significant depressive or anxious symptoms was found to be 63.4% and 53.5%, respectively. The prevalence of SDs was 74.6%. The most affected components of the PSQI were sleep latency, sleep quality, and sleep dysfunction. Sleep quality was significantly related to epilepsy in children (p=0.012), mothers' age (p=0.027), mothers' depression (p=0.008), or anxiety (p=0.001). No significant association was found between mothers' burden or fatigue and low sleep quality.
our findings highlight the prevalence of fatigue, burden, serious psychological distress, and SDs among mothers of children with CP. Consequently, medical personnel and social workers should be more attentive to the needs of these mothers who often silently endure the emotional and physical strains of caregiving.
脑瘫（CP）是儿童期最常见的身体残疾。照顾有功能限制和长期依赖的儿童给许多家庭带来了重大挑战。尽管如此，脑瘫患儿母亲的经历和需求仍未得到充分研究。本研究旨在评估一组突尼斯脑瘫患儿母亲的疲劳、照顾负担、心理困扰和睡眠障碍（SDs）。
这项横断面研究探讨了照顾脑瘫患儿的突尼斯母亲的幸福感。使用个人力量清单（CIS）、扎里特照顾者负担量表（ZCBS）、医院焦虑和抑郁量表（HADS）以及匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（PSQI）对参与者进行评估。
共招募了71名参与者。在所有参与者中，39.4%报告有中度至重度负担，53.5%报告有严重疲劳。发现临床上显著的抑郁或焦虑症状的患病率分别为63.4%和53.5%。睡眠障碍的患病率为74.6%。PSQI受影响最大的部分是入睡潜伏期、睡眠质量和睡眠功能障碍。睡眠质量与儿童癫痫（p = 0.012）、母亲年龄（p = 0.027）、母亲抑郁（p = 0.008）或焦虑（p = 0.001）显著相关。未发现母亲的负担或疲劳与低睡眠质量之间存在显著关联。
我们的研究结果突出了脑瘫患儿母亲中疲劳、负担、严重心理困扰和睡眠障碍的患病率。因此，医务人员和社会工作者应更加关注这些母亲的需求，她们常常默默承受着照顾带来的情感和身体压力。
