title: Quality of life of Nigerian informal caregivers of community-dwelling stroke survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregivers play important roles in the collaborative efforts that characterize successful stroke rehabilitation, and their quality of life (QoL) may have implications for outcome of care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explored the QoL of caregivers of community-dwelling stroke survivors in north-eastern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine caregivers of community-dwelling stroke survivors attending physiotherapy out-patients departments of two government hospitals in the city of Maiduguri participated in the study. Information on participants' age, gender, employment status, educational background, relationship with the stroke patient, and time after onset of stroke were obtained through interview, while their QoL was assessed with WHOQoLBREF questionnaire. Demographic and QoL data were summarized with descriptive statistics, and influence of caregivers and care recipients' factors on QoL was analysed using Kruskal-Wallis test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of caregivers were males (55.9%) and provided care for their parents (69.5%) who had suffered stroke within 1 year prior to study (72.9%). Mean scores on all QoL domains were above average with the physical domain recording the lowest scores. Caregivers' factors of age, educational background and employment, and duration poststroke onset were significantly associated with domains of QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although QoL of stroke caregivers was fair across domains, the physical domain recorded the lowest mean scores. Older age, lack of formal education, unemployment and caring for stroke patients within the second year poststroke were associated with lower QoL scores. Information from this study may aid in identifying those caregivers who require support programmes and care the most.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vincent-Onabajo
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Talhatu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamzat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000451:nursing*; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult