Caregiver burden among poor caregivers of patients with cancer in an urban African setting.
OBJECTIVE
The nature and magnitude of the problems facing caregivers remain largely unknown in developing countries of the world. This study addresses these issues in a group of caregivers of patients with cancer in Zaria, Nigeria.


METHODS
One hundred and three patients attending an oncology outpatient clinic at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital were enrolled in the study with their caregivers. The caregivers were interviewed using the Socio-demographic data sheet, General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30) and Zarith Burden Interview (ZBI). A score of 4 or more in GHQ and scores above the median score of the sample in ZBI were considered a clinically significant level of psychological morbidity and a high level of burden, respectively. Data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 13 for Windows. All statistical tests of significance were carried out at 5% level of probability.


RESULTS
The patients were 60 women whose mean age was 57. Of the 103 caregivers, 60 (58%) were men and 43 (42%) were women. Their mean age was 37. Their mean ZBI and GHQ-30 scores were 29.16±12.8 (median = 25) and 3.67±3.01, respectively. A high level of burden was found in 49.5% (95% CI 39.9-59.1%) and psychological morbidity was found in 46.6% (95% CI 37.0-56.2%) of the caregivers. High levels of burden and psychological morbidity were significantly associated with absence of financial support.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated a high level of caregiver burden, psychological morbidity and financial strain in family caregivers coming to the clinic with a relative who has cancer in an urban Nigerian setting.
Yusuf
Abdulkareem Jika
AJ
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. yusufajika@yahoo.com
Adamu
Abdullahi
A
Nuhu
Folorunsho Tajudeen
FT
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009549:Nigeria; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population