Quality of Life among Children with Cerebral Palsy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Various Factors Influencing It: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Many neurological disorders cause disabilities in children, and cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Children with CP experience reduced quality of life (QOL). CP is the most prevalent cause of disability in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to establish quantitative evidence related to QOL and the factors influencing it among children with CP. We recruited 132 participants between 2 and 18 years of age diagnosed with CP from several hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Participants were classified according to age based on the Pediatric QOL Inventory CP Module (PedsQL 3.0 CPM), which was completed by parental proxies. The Gross Motor Functional Classification System—Expanded and Revised (GMFCS-E&R) divided participants based on their functional level. Of the 132 participants, 79 were male and 53 were female. We observed reduced mean score of QOL in all PedsQL 3.0 CPM dimensions. Parents reported the lowest QOL for movement and balance activities and the highest QOL for eating activities. There was a significant negative moderate correlation between QOL and GMFCS-E&R scores ( r s = −0.56, P = 0.01) and a significant moderate positive correlation between QOL and schooling ( r s = 0.4, P < 0.03) and socioeconomic status of the family ( r s = 0.42, P < 0.04). The parents of children with CP reported poor QOL for the children. Decreased functional levels were associated with reduced QOL, whereas schooling positively impacted QOL. More frequent rehabilitation services may be required to educate and encourage positive parental involvement during rehabilitation, further enhancing QOL among children with CP.