Quality of life in caregivers of children with developmental delay - A case-control study

BACKGROUND: Caregivers role is crucial in lives of children with developmental delay. Most caregivers have little time for themselves leading to poor social life and quality of life (QOL). Social rehabilitative services among caregivers have improved health of children with developmental delay. We assessed the QOL of caregivers of children with developmental delay and compared with those of normal children. METHODS: Thirty children with developmental delay were selected as cases and thirty normal children as controls. Clinical profile of cases and sociodemographic details of all the participants was assessed. World Health Organization QOL-BREF was used to assess QOL of the caregivers in physical, psychological, social, and environment domains. RESULTS: Fifty percent of cases had severe developmental delay. QOL among caregivers of cases was poor in physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment domains. Mean QOL scores of caregivers of controls were significantly higher than mean QOL scores of caregivers of cases in all four domains. As severity of disability increased there was worsening of QOL observed in all four domains. CONCLUSIONS: QOL of caregivers of children with developmental delay is worse compared to that of controls, and it became worse with increase in the severity of the disability. Hence, there is a need for social support group among the caregivers along with medical rehabilitation.