International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Assessment and Predictive Factors of Sleep Disturbances among Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Marwa Ghanmi*, Sahbi Mtawaa, Nedra Elfeni, Asma Bouraoui, Walid Ouanes and Soni Jemni

Mothers caring for children with cerebral Palsy (CP) are challenged in their daily activity but also in their sleep. The quality of sleep (QOS) is often associated with quality of life and impaired mental health. We aim to study the QOS in mothers of children with CP and to determine the factors associated with impaired sleep quality in them. This is a cross-sectional study conducted between September 1, 2019 and May 30, 2020 among mothers of children with CP and followed at outpatient and inpatient clinics of physical medicine and rehabilitation. QOS was assessed using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Depressive and anxiety disorder and quality of life were also assessed using specific scales. The study included 54 mothers with a mean age of 38.6 years. CP children had a mean age of 6.9 years. Sleep quality was impaired in 81.5% of mothers. A percentage of 70.4% had anxiety disorder and 63% had depressive. Mental and physical maternal quality of life was altered respectively in 81.5% and 66.7% of the mothers. Among the factors influencing the QOS, we retained the maternal age greater than 35 years, the presence of anxious symptomatology, a deteriorated maternal mental quality of life and the extensive topographic impairment of children with CP. Mothers of children with CP have a disturbed QOS, a troubled mental health and an altered quality of life. Physicians dealing with them must detect these problems early by using adapted questionnaires in order to intervene in a more efficient way.

Published Date: 2023-04-12; Received Date: 2023-02-27