Caregiver burden among relatives of patients with schizophrenia in Katsina, Nigeria

Abstract

Background. Caring for patients with schizophrenia places an enormous burden on the caregivers. The magnitude of this problem remains largely unknown in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the nature of the burden reported by caregiving relatives of patients with schizophrenia. Materials and method. A total of 129 primary caregivers of patients with schizophrenia attending the outpatient clinic of Katsina State Psychiatric Hospital were interviewed, using a socio-demographic data collection sheet and the Zarith Burden Interview (ZBI). Results. The mean age of the respondents was 45.1 ± 8.9 years. Most of the caregivers were female. A high level of burden was found in 47.3% of respondents. The level of burden experienced was significantly associated with place of residence and family size. Conclusion. Schizophrenia is associated with a high level of caregiver burden. Efforts should be made to alleviate this burden for better outcomes in both patients and caregivers.