Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Among Informal Caregivers of Patients with Mental Disorders Attending Clinics at Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t3118Abstract
Informal caregivers face considerable psychological pressures while visiting family to facilities such as Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya. With an estimated 475,633 Kenyans suffering from serious mental illnesses that necessitate full-time caregiving, the mental health of this caregiver population goes mostly ignored. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among informal caregivers of patients with mental disorders who attended clinics at Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital. The study was based on the Caregivers Stress Process Theory, which states that caregiving becomes a burden when the care recipient is a relative with mental illness, with burden levels determined by background characteristics, primary and secondary stressors, and intrapsychic strains. A descriptive survey design was used, with informal caregivers accompanying patients to Mathari Hospital. Purposive sample generated 92 caregivers, with 80 completed surveys used in the analysis. The DASS-21 anxiety and depression scales, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Interview, and the Brief COPE Scale were all used to collect data. For descriptive and inferential statistics, data was analysed using SPSS version 25. The prevalence of depression was 32.4% mild, 18.8% moderate, and anxiety was 38.8% mild, 12.4% moderate, and 3.8% severe. There was no significant relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and psychological discomfort levels. Anxiety and sadness are common among informal caregivers at Mathari Hospital, underlining the urgent need for caregiver-focused mental health efforts. Mathari Hospital should conduct systematic caregiver mental health assessments and create tailored support programs for those in moderate to severe suffering.
Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Informal Caregivers, Patients, Mental Disorders, Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital
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