Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among Primary Caregivers of People Living with Mental Illness in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Mental illness is a widespread issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Its impact is not only limited to the individuals suffering from it but also extends to their families and communities. Caregivers suffer physically, psychologically, and socially twice than general population related to care giving process. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed from January 21 to February 21, 2024, at public hospitals in Harari Regional State and Dire Dawa City Administrative; 437 primary caregivers were selected via a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using interview-administered questionnaires. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the contributing factors of quality of life domains among the participants, and the ꞵ-coefficient with a 95% confidence interval was used. Statistical significance was accepted at a P-value < .05. Results: A total of 421 respondents participated, for a response rate of 96.3%. The results found that the mean quality of life scores of caregivers of people living with mental illness for each domain (mean ± SD) were 58.05 ± 18.81, 57.29 ± 16.28, 51.19 ± 23.12, and 53.04 ± 16.13, for physical, psychological, social and environmental factors, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the caregiver’s educational status, depression, perceived stigma, perceived burden and patient’s diagnosis were negatively associated with all domains of quality of life, whereas the caregiver’s resilience and social support were strongly positively associated with all domains of quality of life. Conclusion: Caregivers’ quality of life found to be low across the four domains of quality of life, with the lowest score in the social domain. Resilience and social support found to plays a positive role in the quality of life of caregivers. Regular evaluation of risky caregivers, and psycho-support are crucial to address these challenges and improve caregivers’ well-being.