title: An evaluation of quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of life of mothers with children suffering from cerebral palsy compared with those who have children with minor health problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty mothers with a child suffering from cerebral palsy and 44 mothers with a child suffering from minor health problems participated in a comparative study. The Turkish version of the Medical Outcomes 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess a mother's quality of life. The severity of a child's motor disability was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the exception of the SF-36 physical functioning subscale, the mean scores on the SF-36 subscales were significantly lower in mothers of children with CP than those of the comparison group. The quality of life scores of mothers were significantly correlated with the severity of a child's motor disability (except physical functioning subscale). Significant correlations were found between GMFCS and the role physical; vitality; role emotional; and mental health subscales of the SF-36.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of life profile of mothers of children with cerebral palsy is different from those who have a child with minor health problems. Different coping strategies and psychosocial programmes must be designed and implemented to decrease the burden of care.
authors.affiliation: Mother and Child Health Care and Family Planning General Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey. levent@saglik.gov.tr
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eker
authors.forename: Emine Handan
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Tüzün
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D011788:Quality of Life; D014421:Turkey