Quality of Life in Mothers of Children with Microcephaly in the Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of life of mothers of children with microcephaly compared to the quality of life of mothers with children of the same age but with normal neuropsychomotor development (NPM).MethodThis study was a cross-sectional, comparative, analytical study held in a public reference service. Seventy-eight (78) mothers with children between birth and two years old, with and without changes in their NMP, were interviewed. The abbreviated Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Quality of Life (WHOQOL-bref) and a sociodemographic evaluation questionnaire, developed by the author, were used. The data were analyzed descriptively, evaluating the association between variables and correlation tests.ResultsMothers of children with microcephaly showed lower scores for various quality of life domains, however there was only a statistically significant difference for the environmental domain (48.40 for the group of mothers of children with microcephaly vs. 57.13 for the group of mothers with children with normal NPM, P<0.02). It should be noted that there were also significant negative correlations between the majority obstetric variables, maternal age and quality of life scores. There was no significant association between the child’s age and such scores.ConclusionChildren with neuropsychomotor variations have not influenced their mother’s quality of life, rather, the mother’s quality of life is affected predominantly by housing conditions and financial resources.NON-TECHNICAL AUTHOR SUMMARYThis study was a cross-sectional, comparative, analytical study held in a public reference service. Seventy-eight (78) mothers with children between birth and two years old, with and without changes in their NMP, were interviewed. The abbreviated Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Quality of Life (WHOQOL-bref) and a sociodemographic evaluation questionnaire, developed by the author, were used. The data were analyzed descriptively, evaluating the association between variables and correlation tests. Mothers of children with microcephaly showed lower scores for various quality of life domains, however there was only a statistically significant difference for the environmental domain (48.40 for the group of mothers of children with microcephaly vs. 57.13 for the group of mothers with children with normal NPM, P<0.02). It should be noted that there were also significant negative correlations between the majority obstetric variables, maternal age and quality of life scores. There was no significant association between the child’s age and such scores. Children with neuropsychomotor variations have not influenced their mother’s quality of life, rather, the mother’s quality of life is affected predominantly by housing conditions and financial resources.