Caregiver burden among caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder
South African Journal of Psychiatry
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Caregiver burden among caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder | |
| Creator | van Niekerk, Karli Stancheva, Venera Smith, Cornelia | |
| Description | Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with deficits in social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. Autism spectrum disorder is associated with multiple comorbidities. As a result, caregivers of children with ASD experience increased levels of burden and poor quality of life. However, there is a paucity of information on the burden.Aim: The study aimed to describe the sociodemographic profiles and determine the extent of the burden experienced by caregivers of children and adolescents with ASD.Setting: The Child, Adolescent and Family Unit (CAFU) outpatient services at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH).Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was done. Two self-administered questionnaires were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire and the 12-item Zarit Burden Interview questionnaire.Results: The questionnaires were completed by 77 caregivers, of which the majority were female (n = 56 or 72.3%), mothers to children with ASD (n = 49 or 64.3%) and identified as Christian (p 0.001). Most had completed secondary school or had a tertiary education (p = 0.003) and were employed (p 0.001). Among the caregivers, 41.6% experienced mild to moderate burden, 33.8% experienced high burden and only 24.9% reported no to mild burden.Conclusion: Caregivers of children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ASD are mostly mothers and experience mild to moderate levels of caregiver burden, suggesting the need for improved screening and psychosocial support programmes.Contribution: This study highlights the burden experienced by primary caregivers of children with ASD and is one of the few comprehensive studies on this issue within the context of South Africa. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2023-10-20 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v29i0.2079 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Psychiatry; Vol 29 (2023); 9 pages 2078-6786 1608-9685 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2079/3083
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2079/3084
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2079/3085
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2079/3086
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