RELAÇÃO ENTRE A QUALIDADE DE VIDA E SOBRECARGA DO CUIDADOR COM O NÍVEL DE COMPROMETIMENTO MOTOR DE CRIANÇAS COM PARALISIA CEREBRAL

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) can influence the child's interaction with the environment and interfere in their daily activities. As a function of improving the condition of the child with CP, the main caregiver can put aside their own well-being, triggering changes in their quality of life, also affecting their burden. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the level of motor impairment of children with CP and the quality of life and caregiver burden. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study with data collection from medical records and interviews using questionnaires (SF-36, Zarit Burden Interview) of caregivers of children with CP, aged 6 to 11 years, attended in public and private physical therapy clinics. from Belo Horizonte/metropolitan region, which were divided according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) into groups A (GMFCS I, II and III) and B (GMFCS IV and V).  Results: 41 caregivers participated in the study, with a median age of 39 years.  There was no significant difference in the scores on the Zarit Scale and in the domains of the SF-36 questionnaire between the groups.  However, both had lower scores in the SF-36 domains and moderate burden.  Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was found between the level of burden and the caregivers' quality of life.  Conclusion: Caregivers of children with CP showed moderate burden and altered quality of life, regardless of the child's level of motor impairment.  However, no correlation was observed between the child's motor impairment and the evaluated outcomes.