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The Health and Well-being of Children with Disabilities

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Children with Special Needs

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Social Work ((BRIEFSSOWO))

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Abstract

In a global perspective, the proportion of children with disabilities and long-term illnesses is constantly increasing. A contributing factor to this increase may be that the advances in medical technology and medical solutions make it possible for more children to be born to this world alive. Many of these children are at risk of being “medically fragile” and in need of advanced medical care for short or long periods. Because health-care interventions are becoming more and more advanced, this also increases the risk of medical errors and complications, which may further impair an already bad state of health of a child. The extensive healthcare needs of children with disabilities often lead to increased financial costs for the family, while paid work outside the home is prevented or significantly hampered. This mostly affects mothers, who usually are the primary caregivers for a disabled child in the family. These mothers often suffer from depression or depressive symptoms, which may affect children’s mental health and perceived quality of life negatively.

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  1. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden

    Ulrika Hallberg & Gunilla Klingberg

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Hallberg, U., Klingberg, G. (2023). The Health and Well-being of Children with Disabilities. In: Children with Special Needs . SpringerBriefs in Social Work. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28513-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28513-4_2

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