Personal and environmental factors and household assistance in Down syndrome: cross-sectional study

Abstract

According to a biopsychosocial framework, personal and environmental factors might be mediators or facilitators/barriers, respectively, to functioning. However, it is not known how these factors can impact independence in household chores in children/adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). This study explored whether and how personal/environmental factors are associated with the independence level in household chores of children/adolescents with DS in Brazil. Caregivers of twenty-eight children/adolescents with DS were interviewed using the CHORES and a standardized questionnaire about personal (child’s age and sex) and environmental (socioeconomic level and maternal schooling) factors. Multiple linear regression analysis identified if/how these factors are associated with level of independence. For CHORES self-care and CHORES total, sex was a significant variable explaining 21.8% and 15.8%, respectively, of the variation in the outcomes. For the outcome CHORES family care none of the variables was significant. Female sex was associated with a lower need for assistance. We conclude that only the personal factor assessed related to female sex in children with DS was associated with the independence level in household chores. This finding highlights the importance of health care providers and families to encourage the independence in chores regardless of sex and promote opportunities for both boys and girls.

Key words Environment; independent living; children; adolescents; Down syndrome