Burden among caregivers of people with mental illness at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Burden of caregivers of people with mental illness (PWMI) is considered to be a negative impact of the care provided by the family to the patient. However, little is known about the extent of the burden among caregivers of PWMI in Ethiopia. The aim of this study, therefore, is to assess the magnitude and associated factors of burden among caregivers of PWMI at Jimma University Medical Center, 2017. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 406 conveniently selected caregivers of PWMI and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Family burden interview schedule (FBIS) was used to assess burden of caregivers. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of burden among caregivers. Results Nearly two-thirds [264 (65.0%)] of the participants were male with a mean age of 38.45 ± 12.03 years. The mean score for burden among caregivers on family burden interview schedule was 23.00 ± 10.71. Age of the caregivers ( β = 0.18, p < 0.001), being female caregiver ( β = 2.68, p < 0.01), duration of contact hours with the patient per day ( β = 0.74, p < 0.001), perceived stigma by the caregiver ( β = 0.47, p < 0.001), and providing care for patients who had history of substance use in life ( β = 1.52, p < 0.05) were positive predictors of higher burden among caregivers. Whereas, caregivers’ income ( β = 7.25, p < 0.001), caregivers who had no formal education ( β = 4.65, p < 0.01), and caregivers’ social support ( β = 0.78, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with higher burden among caregiver. Conclusion Caregivers of people with mental illness experience enormous burden during providing care for their relatives with mental illness. Therefore, creating community awareness and targeted interventions in the area of treatment access, stigma, financial, and other social support for people with mental illness and their caregivers would help out to reduce these burdens.

Gender differences in the manifestation of burden among family caregivers of people with mental disorders

“…As pointed out in previous studies (Ayalew et al 2019; Demarco et al 2015), lower income was associated with the manifestation of burden. Among men, when compared to individuals who had a family per capita income of 1 minimum wage or more, those situated in the lowest income stratum (up to half a minimum wage) had a 3.24 higher chance of presenting with the outcome.…”

“…Covariates related to family support and satisfaction with family relationships were associated with the outcome in both groups. It is noteworthy that these covariates were previously scored in the literature as markers of emotional and psychological illness among caregivers of people with mental disorders (Ayalew et al, 2019; Treichel et al, 2020). Overall, the results of this study corroborate the perspective that the functionality of the family can be affected by the care relationships, and this must be taken into consideration when proposing a care plan for the user and their family.…”

An Exploration of Family Caregiver Experiences of Burden and Coping While Caring for People with Mental Disorders in Saudi Arabia—A Qualitative Study

“…On the other hand, the less effective coping strategies noted by the caregivers in the current study were avoidance, ignoring, and engagement with the person’s non-reality-based thinking (i.e., hallucinations and delusions). These are also reflected in caregivers of people with mental disorders in other countries for example in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and India [ 7 , 35 , 36 ]. It should be noted that the majority of caregiving was provided by women, making them more susceptible to caregiver burdens [ 16 ].…”

Family Burden and Psychopathology of Caregivers of Patients with Psychiatric Disorders: Comparing Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

“…24 A cross-sectional study from south west Ethiopia reports substantially high level of caregiving burden; nearly, three-fourth of caregivers report moderate/severe objective burden and more than 97% of participants feel burdened subjectively 25 Jayakrishnaveni C et al in 2018 observed in his study that burden is comparable in all domains except schizophrenia patients 'caregiver experience more financial burden. 26 Another study from China shows that burden perceptions of clinical features like violent and suicidal behaviours were more in caregivers of acute bipolar patients than caregivers of schizophrenia patients. 27 Our study demonstrates that caregivers experience considerable amount of distress as a result of the care giving role, and are vulnerable to developing minor psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression.…”