Health status of mothers of children with special needs

Health and wellbeing of mothers of children with special needs as a vulnerable group in society is very important. The aim of this study was to determine the health level of mothers with special needs children in Zanjan province.
This study was a descriptive-correlational research. The sample of study consisted of 300 mothers of children with special needs in the 2014-2015 academic years in Zanjan province. The instrument of this study was¡ “36 item Short Form Health Survey«. Validity and reliability of Iranian version of this instrument has been assessed and confirmed in previous studies. The data analysis was conducted by SPSS/16.
physical functioning (65. 81±24/12) ¡ social functioning (62. 61±27/01) ¡ pain functioning (62. 12±27/01) ¡ mental health functioning (61. 94±20/14) dimensions of health status of mothers were in more desirable condition than other dimensions such as role limitation due to emotional problems (44. 44±38/49).
The health status of mothers of children with special needs was low. Therefore paying more attention to health status of these group of vulnerable mothers and development of appropriate programs is very essential.