Comparison of general health status in parents of children with cerebral palsy and healthy children

The role of parents is critical in rehabilitation process of cerebral palsy children. However, living with a child with cerebral palsy may affect parent's general health status that influences the outcome. The aim of this study was the comparison of general health status in parents of normal children and children with cerebral palsy. Forty parents with cerebral palsy children (age range: fathers= 34±5, mothers= 29.4±4.5) and 40 parents with normal children (age range: fathers= 33±4, mothers= 28.8±4.6) filled general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) including 28-items regarding somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression. Two groups of parents were matched from the educational, cultural and financial aspects. General health score of parents with cerebral palsy was significantly higher than parents with normal children (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy (P>0.05). According to the results, general health status of parents with cerebral palsy children (both mothers and fathers) is affected compared to parents with normal children. This study showed that fathers are at risk as the same as the mothers of children with cerebral palsy.