CAREGIVERS’ BURDEN AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG INFORM AL CAREGIVERS OF STROKE SURVIVORS, AT AMHARA REGIONAL ST ATE COMPREHENSIVE, SPECIALIZED HOSPITALS, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background: Caregivers play a crucial role in a stroke survivor’s functional recovery; neverthel ess, their position also puts them at risk. They are in a very stressful and intimidating situation, which leaves them feeling quite burdened. Different articles in developed and developing countries reported that the magnitude of the burden was prevalent among informal caregivers of stroke survivors. However, as per the investigators' knowledge, there is no known data about the problem in Ethiopia. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of caregiver’s burden and associated factors among informal caregivers of stroke survivors, at Amhara regional state compr ehensive, specialized hospitals. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June/2022 among informal caregivers of stroke survivors attending at Amhara regional state comprehensive, specialized hospitals. Data was collected by interviewing the participants using a structured quest ionnaire. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants. To assess care giver’s burden, pretested zarit burden interview questionnaire was used. The data were coded and then entered into Epi Info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multi collinearity and model of fitness was checked. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and bivariate logistic regression analysis, variables with P-value < 0.25 was considered as potential candidates in the final multivariable logistic regression analyses. Finally, AOR with a P value <0.05 with 95% CI was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 424 study participants were enrolled in this study. The overall prevalence of burden among informal caregivers of stroke survivors was 63.9% (95%, CI: 59.1- 68.5). Caregiv ers caring for more than four hours daily (AOR= 7.55, 95%, CI: 3.7-15.43), caregivers having anxiety (AOR= 5.75, 95%, CI: 2.61-12.65), caregivers having depression (AOR= 9.13, 95%, CI: 4.08-20.43), and a physical dependency of the stroke patient (AOR=3.00, 95%, CI: 1.44-6.27) were significantly associated with a burden. Conclusions: Nearly two-thirds of informal caregivers were burdened. Caregivers caring for more than four hours per day, caregivers experiencing anxiety, caregivers experiencing depression, and a stroke patient’s physical dependency was significantly associated with the caregiver burden of informal caregivers of stroke patients. Keywords: prevalence, stroke, informal caregiver, burden, family, Amhara, Ethiopia.