[Quality of life of a population of 54 ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. A cross-sectional study]

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of handicap on quality of life in children with cerebral palsy and living in family.

Method: A descriptive study by investigation was conducted in children with cerebral palsy, with the ability to walk, from 4 to 12 years of age, and in their family. Quality of life was evaluated with the AUQUEI questionnaire. Another questionnaire was given to the parents to collect the different variables, which could influence quality of life of the child.

Results: The mean age was 9 years. Associations between the studied variables and the quality of life were observed for motor function, number of siblings and the quantity of hours of reeducation given by the family. Parents evaluated their quality of life on the visual scale at 72.23 mm (95CI: 51.60-92.84). There was no correlation between the assessment of quality of life of parents and children.

Discussion-conclusion: The better the child's motor function the less satisfied he was. This result shows the poor correlation between quality of life and general condition, impairment or disability. The greater the number of children in the family the less satisfied the child was within the family and the more satisfied the child was at school. A handicapped child has perhaps a more difficult place in the close family and an easier time in a school where the environment is more neutral. The more time that is devoted by the family to reeducation the less the child is satisfied. Quality of life seems to be influenced negatively by the demands of physical therapy, which do not correspond to the reality of the abilities of the child.