OPINIONS AND NEEDS OF PARENTS OF DISABLED CHILDREN IN TWO HEALTH DISTRICTS OF NAPLES

Key words: Disabled children, Parents’needs, Rehabilitation services

We have investigated some characteristics of health care provided to children with disabilities as well as the needs of their families in two health districts of Naples. The parents of 137 disabled children were interviewed. The mean age of patients was 8 years (SD 3.29). The main diagnoses were cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and mental retardation. Rehabilitation lasted for several years and was provided by private structures for over 90% of children. Thirty percent of the parents reported to have a limited knowledge of the disability of their children as well as to have received insufficient information about the objectives and the results of the therapy by the attending health team. Most children were attending school, mainly in the morning. Usually no car services were provided by town or school authorities. Architectural barriers were reported for 45% of the schools. The relationship with the teachers was defined satisfactory by 59% of the parents. When asked finally about the free time, only 10% of the parents reported that their children had usually spend their play-time and their holidays with other children.