ABSTRACT
To compare the quality of life and coping capacity among primary care givers of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus [IDDM] children and epileptic ones. The study included 40 primary care givers of children with IDDM and 40 caregivers of children with benign childhood generalized absence seizures. The care givers of both diseased children were subjected to World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief scale [WHO QoL Brief] and Abdel Basset Coping Scale. There are statistically significant differences between the two groups in all domains of WHO QOL Brief and coping scores including total, active coping, emotional, emotional based cognitive processes indicating that quality of life and coping abilities are better for caregivers of diabetic children than those of epileptic ones. Also there is statistically significant correlation between those having IDDM boy, higher educational level of the caregivers and lower scoring on quality of life and coping capacity. In care givers of epileptic children significant correlation noted between duration, frequency of seizure, number of antiepileptic drugs, having an epileptic girl, higher educational and occupational status of care givers and poor quality of life and impaired coping capacity. Caregivers of epileptic children have poor quality of life and impaired coping capacity than those of IDDM children. This may increase the need for educational and psychological support to improve the quality of life and alleviate burden experienced by family having diabetic and epileptic child, especially family having an epileptic child