Factors associated with the quality of life of caregivers of children receiving special education in the Jaffna district of Sri Lanka

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.