Predictors of quality of life among informal caregivers of children with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional survey in Northeastern Nigeria

Background: Cerebral palsy is the most frequently reported motor impairment in childhood, with a high prevalence in African countries. Children with cerebral palsy require long-term care from their caregivers. The long-term dependence may lower the level of quality of life of the caregivers.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the level of quality of life and its determining factors among caregivers of children with cerebral palsy.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was conducted with fifty-one caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. Hausa translated version of World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) was used to assess the quality of life of the participants. Functional ability of the children with cerebral palsy whose caregivers were recruited in the study was assessed using Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised (GMFCS-E&R). A multiple regression analysis was used to predict different domains of the caregiver’s quality of life.
Results: Majority of the caregivers (72.0%) were females. They presented with lower level of quality of life (<60 points in all domains of WHOQOL-Bref). Findings from multiple regression analysis indicated that the educational status of the caregivers of children with cerebral palsy significantly predicts (p=0.00) different domains of their quality of life, including; psychological, environmental and physical health. Other significant predictors of psychological domain of the caregiver’s quality of life are child birth order (p=0.02) and caregiver’s age (p=0.00).
Conclusion: Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy have low levels of quality of life. Child birth order, caregiver’s age and educational status are strong predictors of quality of life among caregivers of children with cerebral palsy.