Abstract
We explored the association between caregiving for preschool children with developmental disabilities and maternal health and healthcare use using linked primary care and Born in Bradford birth cohort data. Adjusting for prenatal health, healthcare use and socioeconomic status, mothers who were caregivers were more likely than other mothers to have symptoms of psychological distress (odds ratio 1.24; 95% CI 1.01, 1.53), exhaustion (1.42; 1.12, 1.80) and possibly head and musculoskeletal pain (1.18; 0.97, 1.43). Despite the higher prevalence of symptoms, they did not access healthcare services more and may seek healthcare for psychological distress less often (0.64; 0.40, 1.02). In general, socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with worse health. Pakistani ethnicity (versus white British) and prenatal consultation were strongly associated with higher postnatal consultation rates. Prenatal ill health, healthcare use and socioeconomic status are important factors in the detection of postnatal ill health via primary care services. If caregiver burden and the risk of under-detecting (and thus under treating) caregiver ill health is not addressed during the preschool period health inequalities between caregivers and other mothers and their families may persist and grow. The health of mothers of young disabled children, in particular their unmet health needs, warrants attention in research and clinical practice.
Highlights
Developmental disabilities are long term physiological impairments that significantly affect a child’s ability to perform activities of daily living, such as independent feeding, mobility, and communication (Unicef and World Health Organization 2012)
The caregiver group was comprised of 83 mothers of children with disabling conditions: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (n = 47), Down syndrome (n = 24) and cerebral palsy (n = 12) and 394 mothers of children with indicators of disability: developmental delay (n = 371); developmental disorders (n = 28); unspecified disability (n = 9) and mild or unknown severity learning disability (n = 3)
Our findings suggest the relationship between socioeconomic status and primary healthcare use may vary by symptom, and that there can be both a high consultation rate and underuse within the same population
Summary
Developmental disabilities are long term physiological impairments that significantly affect a child’s ability to perform activities of daily living, such as independent feeding, mobility, and communication (Unicef and World Health Organization 2012). 8.4% of children younger than 5 years were estimated to have developmental disabilities in 2016 (Olusanya et al 2018). The preschool period (child age 0-5 years) is when most parents will notice developmental differences between their child and other children This is when they are most likely to seek and receive a specific disability diagnosis, such as Down syndrome, or a diagnosis of developmental delay or a developmental disorder, which are indicators of disability (Cans et al 2008). During this period, families are adjusting to the diagnosis and its implications for their life. Caregivers describe this as a period of high emotional stress (Mayberry and Heflinger 2013)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call