Factors associated with resilience among caretakers of severe mental illness patients at Butabika National Referal hospital

Abstract

Background: Severe mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, alcohol induced psychosis and so many others. Caring for a person with severe mental illness possess emotional burden (grief, worry tension), psychological burdens (depression, anxiety), financial burdens to the caretakers. Resilience among caretakers of severe mental illness patients reduces the burden and stress of caretaking that may compromise their health and quality of life. Aims: The objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with resilience among caretakers severe mental illness patients at Butabika National Referral Hospital. Methods and Materials: the study was a quantitative and cross sectional study, it involved caretakers of severe mental illness patients who were receiving services from the outpatient department, female admission ward, and male admission ward at Butabika National Referral Hospital. A total of 205 caretaker were selected randomly and then assessed using a structured questionnaire that included characteristics factors of caretakers and a 17 item Adult Resilience Measure-Revised (ARM-R) tool. Results: Caregivers who had achieved acceptance were nine times more likely to be resilient compared to those that haven’t (aOR: 9.2, 95%CI: 1.5-56.8, p=0.016). Likewise, those whose patients had a moderately severe disease were seven times more resilient (aOR: 7.2, 95%CI: 1.3-40.6), p=0.025). Factors such as gender, level of education, relationship with the patient, acceptability, disease comprehension, severity, demand of care and care burden had no significant influence on resilience. Conclusion: From the present study, it has been observed that resilience was more in caretakers who had achieved acceptance, who had knowledge about the disease, employed, blood relatives, post primary caretakers, males , caretakers with moderately ill patients, caretakers whose patients required slight demand of care , caretakers with hope and caretakers who were > 35years of age. Caregivers who had achieved acceptance were nine times more likely to be resilient compared to those that haven’t. Likewise, those whose patients had a moderately severe disease were seven times more resilient.