Functioning of children and adolescents with Down syndrome and the association with environmental barriers and facilitators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brugnaro, Beatriz Helena; de Camargo, Olaf Kraus; Corsi, Carolina; de Campos, Ana Carolina; Fernandes, Gesica; Pavão, Silvia Letícia; Rocha, Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira

PURPOSE To compare functioning and environmental aspects before and during physical distancing (DPD) and to determine which social, physical, behavioral and functioning aspects of DPD are correlated. METHODS Sixteen parents of children/adolescents with Down syndrome (11.38 ± 3.00 years) were surveyed before and DPD. Paired t-tests were used to compare functioning and environmental aspects before and DPD and chi-square tests were used to test associations. RESULTS There were increases in the frequency (p < 0.001) and involvement (p = 0.01) in home participation and on the impact, noticed by the parents, of the possibility of child to participate in daily activities (p = 0.036), as well as a reduction in social supports perceived by caregivers (p = 0.049). An association was found between the child's socio-emotional difficulties symptoms and practice of physical activity (p = 0.043) and with parents' satisfaction with the level of child's home participation (p = 0.042). CONCLUSION Functioning can be affected in either positive or negative ways.