Published online January 2, 2008
PEDIATRICS Vol. 121 Supplement January 2008, pp. S101 (doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2022DD)
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DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS


QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN CYPRUS

Vasso Papavassilioua, Andreoulla Andreou-Filimia, Dimitris Dimitriou-Papavasilioub, Petroula Mavrikioua and Andreas Konstantopoulosc

a Frederick Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
b Developmental and Social Pediatrics Center, Nicosia, Cyprus
c Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Children with mental disabilities and their parents face challenging lives in an ever-changing social context.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate quality of life and daily habits of children with mental disabilities and their families in Cyprus.

METHODS: Sixty-three children (65.5% male) who were attending special schools were evaluated by questionnaires for parents and teachers, personal interviews, and local visits.

RESULTS: Mental disabilities were diagnosed in 45.8% of the children at birth and in 40.7% at 2.5 years, by which time most developmental milestones are normally achieved; 6.5% had not been diagnosed with a mental disability. For 18% of the children, another family member had also been diagnosed with mental disabilities. Pediatricians were considered most supportive (62.3%). Only 45% of the children were followed-up regularly, 30.5% rarely visited a doctor, and 66% had not been evaluated by electroencephalography after diagnosis. Children attended physiotherapy (39.2%), ergotherapy (51%), and arts therapy (45.3%), and 95.1% attended special education. Most of them went to school by bus (85.2%). They were somewhat accepted by their peers (49.1%), and 33.3% shared leisure time. They felt accepted by society (86.4%), but 16.9% reported problems with family members. The mother was mostly involved (61.8%), and in only 5.9% of the cases were both parents involved. Parents had little or no free time (67.1%), rarely went on holidays (55%), considered a big city favorable (61%), and were optimistic about their children's future (76.4%). Many parents needed assistance (60%), especially regarding free time (22.6%) and financial (20.8%) and medical (11.3%) issues. Most peers were informed and understanding (95%).

CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life is considered satisfactory; however, better medical follow-up and intensification of help provided to these families is needed. Children are quite well adapted in society, although there is room for improvement.

Submitted by Vassiliki Papavassiliou