Social Health and Behavior

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2020  |  Volume : 3  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 144--151

Psychosocial burden of caregivers taking care of children in the children's emergency room of two tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria


Ikenna K Ndu1, Chidiebere D I Osuorah2, Ezinne I Nwaneli3, Uchenna Ekwochi1, Isaac N Asinobi1, Kenechukwu K Iloh4, Obinna C Nduagubam1 
1 Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria
2 Child Survival Unit, Medical Research Council UK, The Gambia Unit, Fajara, Gambia
3 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria
4 Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Chidiebere D I Osuorah
Child Survival Unit, Medical Research Council UK, the Gambia Unit, Fajara
Gambia

Introduction: In this study, we sought to determine the severity of caregiving burden among caregivers of children presenting to the emergency room and analyze its associated predictors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, study carried out on 332 caregivers of children admitted into the children emergency room (CHER) of two tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria. A validated structured questionnaire was administered by an interviewer with the use of an interpreter where necessary. Results: A total of three hundred and thirty-two child–caregiver dyads were enrolled for this study. Fathers were 25.6%, mother 65.4%, and nonparent made up 9.0% of primary caregivers of child in index admission. The mean age of the enrolled children was 2.5 ± 1.9 years with age ranges of 1 month to 16 years. Male-to-female ratio was approximately 0.8. Two hundred and fifty-four (80.6%) of surveyed caregivers experienced high psychosocial burden. On the average, caregivers were faced with moderate burden in the CHER during care of their sick child with a mean caregiver burden score of 1.64 ± 0.67. Caregivers looking after independent children (odds ratio [OR]: 0.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2–0.9; P = 0.05), partially dependent children (OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.3–0.9; P = 0.040), and those with someone assisting them in the care of admitted and/or children at home (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2–1.0; P = 0.050) were less likely to experience high psychosocial burden of care as compared with caregivers looking after dependent children and those with no assistance. Conclusion: There is a need to incorporate comprehensive psychosocial and instinctive support for caregivers during the care of their sick children in the emergency room.


How to cite this article:
Ndu IK, Osuorah CD, Nwaneli EI, Ekwochi U, Asinobi IN, Iloh KK, Nduagubam OC. Psychosocial burden of caregivers taking care of children in the children's emergency room of two tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria.Soc Health Behav 2020;3:144-151


How to cite this URL:
Ndu IK, Osuorah CD, Nwaneli EI, Ekwochi U, Asinobi IN, Iloh KK, Nduagubam OC. Psychosocial burden of caregivers taking care of children in the children's emergency room of two tertiary hospitals in Southeast Nigeria. Soc Health Behav [serial online] 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];3:144-151
Available from: https://www.shbonweb.com/article.asp?issn=2589-9767;year=2020;volume=3;issue=4;spage=144;epage=151;aulast=Ndu;type=0