Selected Factors of Socioeconomic Status in Parents of Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

The article presents the results of the author’s own research concerning selected factors of socioeconomic status (SES) in 130 parents (100 women and 30 men) of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and equal group of parents of children without CF. Diagnostic survey was carried out with the use of questionnaires. The research proves that mothers and fathers of children with CF show no significant differences compared to parents of children without CF when it comes to completed education level and declared monthly income per head (mothers show the difference near the level of statistical significance). The differences have been observed in the cases of such SES factors as: professional activity and subjective evaluation of own material situation. An average monthly cost of treatment of a child with CF reaches 1,060.55 PLN according to one of the parents. The money is mainly spent on pharmacotherapy, journey to the specialist medical centres, and private medical treatments. It has been shown that only about ¼ of the surveyed are able to cover the above expenditures on their own. Therefore, further research into the socioeconomic status of parents of children with CF is needed to prepare adequate programmes of social support.

Keywords

• mukowiscydoza
• status socjoekonomiczny
• rodzice
• dzieci