Spina bifida. Part 2. Family issues and psychosexual concerns.

This brief overview of family issues and psychosexual concerns should provide the reader with the stimulus to explore the many issues surrounding the birth of a child with spina bifida. Only two issues were presented in the care and management of children with spina bifida. There are many others, such as the financial burden imposed by multiple health care visits, that have an impact on the total treatment of the individual with spina bifida. Because of advances in the medical and surgical management of individuals with spina bifida, the life expectancy of individuals with spina bifida is expanded; as more individuals reach adulthood and beyond, other issues will emerge. It is the responsibility of the health care professional to devise methods to assist individuals with spina bifida to maximize their abilities and live a productive life.