Caregiver Burden Among Informal Caregivers of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Liangshan Prefecture, China

Yuqing Song,1,* Huan Wang,2,* Yao Yin,3 Anliu Nie,4 Hui Yang,5 Ying Liu,1 Lin Tao,6 Hua Zhong,1 Liao Zhang,1 Hong Chen1 1West China School of Nursing/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, the Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Centre, Mianyang, Sichuan Province, 621000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurology/Evidence-Based Nursing Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, People’s Republic of China; 4Emergency Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, People’s Republic of China; 5Nursing Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital /West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Chen, West China School of Nursing/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxuexiang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of China, Email 1366109878@qq.comPurpose: Previous studies revealed that informal caregivers for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) experience perceived caregiver burden. Although Liangshan prefecture is one of the areas with the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemics in China, little is known about burden of informal caregivers for PLWHA. This study aimed to evaluate caregiver burden and these predictors among informal caregivers of PLWHA in Liangshan prefecture, China.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from August to December 2017. We used convenience sampling to recruit informal caregivers of PLWHA. A total of 222 participants completed questionnaires including demographic information, caregiving-related information, and caregiver burden (measured by Zarit Burden Interview, ZBI). SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Independent student’s t-test, one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA), Spearman rank correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed.Results: The mean ZBI score was 40.61 (SD = 14.47), and 199 (89.6%) informal caregivers had a mild or above caregiver burden. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that older age (P=0.003), caregivers with poor health (P=0.002), parent-caregivers (P=0.001), poorer ability in ‘balancing caregiving needs and their own needs’ (P< 0.001), and ‘managing emotional needs’ (P=0.014) were significantly associated with higher level of caregiver burden.Conclusion: The majority of informal caregivers had perceived caregiver burden in Liangshan prefecture of China. Findings emphasize that health-care providers, medical institutions and government should develop educational programs and policy to improve caregiver’s ability to cope with caregiving for PLWHA, and take more attention to caregivers with health problem, at older age, parent-caregivers. These may contribute to reducing caregiver burden among informal caregivers of PLWHA.Keywords: caregiver burden, family caregiver, informal caregiver, persons living with HIV/AIDS