Current Pediatric Research

Objective: This study was investigate the effect of level of functional independence and ages on the quality of life of the mothers in children with Down Syndrome. Methods: Thirty seven Down syndrome children (7.9 ± 3.5 years) were included in this study. Functional independent level of children were evaluated by using Functional Independence Measure, mothers quality of life were evaluated by using Short Form-36. Down syndrome children were classified according their Functional Independence Measure total score into two groups; need observation (36-90 scores) (n=19) and independent (91-126 scores) (n=18) groups. Results: Functional Independence Measure total scores of children in need obsevation group and children in independent group were 73.7 ± 15.4, 106.7 ± 11.6, respectively. Sort Form-36 Physical, Sort Form-36 Mental and Sort Form-36 Total scores of children in need obsevation group were 53.1 ± 25.1, 49.6 ± 14.9 and 102.7 ± 37.4 and children in independent group scores were 68.3 ± 21.6, 62.1 ± 13.9 and 130.5 ± 33.7, respectively. When we compared Short Form-36 Mental and Sort Form-36 Total scores of the groups were significant in favor of independent group (p<0.05), but the difference of Short Form-36 Physical score was insignificant (p>0.05). In addition, it was found no relationships between the quality of life of mothers and children age in the all groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study suggested that functional dependence level of Down syndrome children effects on mothers' quality of life and affected domain of quality of life was mental health. It was seen that the age of Down syndrome children did'nt has effect on quality of life of mothers.

Author(s): Sebahat Yaprak Cetin, Bilge Basakcı Calik, Ferruh Taspinar, Ummuhan Bas Aslan

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