Analyzing perceived caregiving burden and assessment of sociodemographic correlates among informal caregivers of Schizophrenia patients: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Informal Caregivers experience various circumstances during patient care. Such instances could potentially lead to physical, emotional, and economical challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate caregiving burden among informal caregivers of schizophrenia patients and to find out factors that corroborate increment in caregiver’s burden. Participants and Methods: Schizophrenia patients and their informal caregivers were recruited from outpatient clinics of the largest public sector psychiatric hospital in the country. Data was collected on a pre-designed questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Caregivers were evaluated for caregiving burden using Burden Assessment Scale (BAS). Bivariate analysis and correlation coefficients were the focus methods of analysis to examine the association between burden of caregiving and corroborating factors. Results The mean age of Schizophrenia patients was 30.7 ± 10.3 years and, n:358(94%) were male. The mean age of informal caregivers was 42.3 ± 13.1 years and, 78% of them were male. The highest number of caregivers were parents n:156(41%) and the average duration of caregiving computed was 6.3 ± 4.9 years. The Mean Burden assessment Score (BAS) of caregivers was 49.6 ± 14.0 and 51% (n:196) of the caregivers were found with higher caregiving burden. Conclusion A strong advocacy support is needed at local level to offer social support and psychoeducational services for care providers. Additionally, it is crucial that such families or communities at large consider opportunities to identify that how support and task sharing for routine life responsibilities could help informal care providers to enjoy their role and contribute as an effective member of the society.