Abstract

Background: The main aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of caregiver burden among the family members of persons living with HIV.
Methods: A cross sectional hospital based study was conducted at ART PLUS centre GMC Jammu, over a period of 1 year from November 2018 to October 2019 after IEC permission. Written and Informed consent was obtained from each participant and predesigned and valid questionnaire was administered to each participant. During the interview, caregivers were asked about their demographics, including gender, age, educational status, employment status, marital status and annual income. Caregivers were asked about their level of caregiver burden through ZARIT QUESTIONNAIRE.
Results: There were a total of  100 caregivers participated in the study done over a period of 1 year conducted in GMC JAMMU. The majority were females (56%). Their age ranged from 17- 77 years and the mean age of the participants was 44.89 years (SD= 15.035). Most of them was in the age groups 17-30 years old (22.5%) and more than 60 years old (22. %).The mean caregiver burden score for the caregivers of PLHIV in this study was 51.85 (SD=17.5), range 0-88. The largest group of the participants (59%) reported “moderate to severe” caregiver burden. 29% caregivers living with HIV positive patients experience severe burden. 12% had only mild to moderate burden. Out of 100 caregivers, 91 were married (91%).26 out of 91 (28.8%) suffered severe burden and 54 (59.3%) suffered moderate to severe burden where as 3 of 9 (33.3%) unmarried caregivers suffered from severe burden and 5(55.6%) of them had moderate to severe burden. Mild burden is noted in 12.1 % married caregivers and 11.1% of unmarried caregivers.
Conclusion: Majority caregivers of PLHIV experience caregiver burden. Intervention including care plan should be given to caregivers to minimize risk of burden and depression and increase their quality of life. This study also emphasizes that correct interventions at the right time will give the caregiver a better quality of life with lower stress and higher wellbeing of a caregiver.