Caregiver burden and associated factors amongst carers of women with advanced breast cancer attending a radiation oncology clinic in Nigeria

• Published in: African journal of primary health care & family medicine 2021-06, Vol.13 (1), p.e1-e8
• Main Authors: Jite, Ikechi E, Adetunji, Adedotun A, Folasire, Ayorinde M, Akinyemi, Joshua O, Bello, Segun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: advanced breast cancer; Breast cancer; Cancer; Care and treatment; caregiver burden; Caregivers; family caregivers; nigeria; Original Research; Radiation; Women; zarit burden interview
• ISSN: 2071-2928; 2071-2936
• DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2812

Background The responsibility of caring for patients with advanced cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is mostly shouldered by family members because of paucity of institutional facilities. There is a growing concern that the number of women needing treatment for advanced breast cancer is rising at an unprecedented rate in Nigeria. Aim To assess the caregiver burden and its associated factors amongst family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer. Setting The study was conducted at the radiation oncology clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted amongst 157 eligible family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer. The family caregivers completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire, which included the socio-demographic data, the caregiving process and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Logistic regression was used to identify factors, and ethical approval was obtained. Results Over half (53%) of the respondents were males with spousal caregivers dominantly constituting 27.4% of all respondents, closely followed by daughters (25.5%) of the care recipients. The mean ZBI score was 29.84 ± 13.9. Most (72%) of the caregivers experienced burden. Factors associated with caregiver burden were previous hospitalisation of the care recipient (odds ratio [OR] = 3.74, confidence interval [CI]: 1.67 to 8.38) and perceived dysfunction in patients activities of daily living (OR = 2.57, CI: 1.14 to 5.78). Conclusion Family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer experience burden of care. Recognition of this vulnerable population and the care recipient as a dyad is a sine qua non in mitigating the burden associated with their caregiving role.