Prevalence of psychological distress among the caregivers of an endosulfan disaster victims in India: a cross-sectional community-based study

Abstract

Abstract Background Physical health needs of disaster victims take priority over mental health needs in post-disaster scenario, assessments and interventions for latter needs are done only for a shorter duration. The caregivers of the victims also bore the brunt of the disaster and their mental health needs are seldom examined and addressed. Unable to find any literature examining the mental health needs of caregivers of the endosulfan disaster victims in India, the study was planned with the objectives of assessing the prevalence and predictors of psychological distress, its relation to the level of impact, disability as well as quality of life among the caregivers of the victims of endosulfan disaster in the State of Kerala, India after 20 years. Method It was a cross-sectional community-based study among 400 the caregivers of the victims of endosulfan disaster. Demographic details, distress, impact, disability and quality of life were measured using instruments such as Family Schedule, Self-Reporting Questionnaire, Impact of Events Scale, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, respectively. Results The estimated psychological distress among the caregivers of the endosulfan disaster victims was 48.7%. Distressed caregivers were found to have significant higher impact (t = − 12.12, p < 0.001), higher disability (t = − 13.33, p < 0.001), and poorer quality of life (t = 11.64, p < 0.001) than non-distressed caregivers. On logistic regression analysis, the positive predictors of psychological distress among the caregivers of endosulfan victims were female sex, impact and psychological disability while quality of life was a negative predictor. Conclusions Almost half of the caregivers of the victims of endosulfan disaster victims reported psychological distress, high level of impact and disability and a poorer quality of life. It calls for periodical mental health needs assessment and a long-term sustainable community based psychosocial care and disaster mental health programme.