Abstract:
Quality of life (QoL) is a vital aspect of well-being for caregivers of children with disabilities in
special education. In Asian contexts, caregiver burden often remains hidden due to sociocultural
factors. This analytical cross-sectional study assessed the QoL of 200 caregivers of children attending
special education units in government schools of Jaffna District (Jaffna, Valikamam,
Vadamaradchi) and explored associated factors. The study highlights the challenges caregivers
face and the need for greater recognition and support within communities. A structured questionnaire
about the demographic profile of caregivers and children, details of child care needs
and the WHOQOL-BREF were used. One-way ANOVA and independent t-tests were applied
to identify the mean differences in quality of life with respect to favourable or unfavourable
factors. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of the University of
Kelaniya (Reference Number: UOK/ERC/MDS/2024/021). The quality of life(QoL) scores of
the caregivers were evaluated in four domains via the WHOQOL-BREF tool. The mean QOL
scores were as follows: physical domain = 12.17 (SD = 1.3), psychological domain = 12.27
(SD = 1.6), social relationships = 11.55 (SD = 2.2), and environmental domain = 12.22 (SD
= 1.6). The overall mean QOL score was 12.17 (SD = 1.3). Notably, the social domain had
the lowest average score, suggesting that social support and interaction may significantly impact
caregivers. Compared to the global averages from the WHOQOL group (n = 11,829), the
participants of the study demonstrated lower QoL across all domains, particularly in social and
psychological well-being.
