Chinese mothers' reactions to their child's chronic illness.

Improvements in health status in the People's Republic of China have led to a shift in the burden of illness from acute, communicable disease to long-term illness, particularly in urban areas. The Chinese family's response to chronic illness is influenced by many factors, including the traditional cultural value of family responsibility as well as economic determinants. Through direct interviews with 75 women, we sought to understand the financial, social, emotional, and physical effects of caring for a chronically ill child on a Chinese mother's life and caregiving ability and to identify the sources of support available to her.