The THE BURDEN OF CARING AND PARENTING STYLES USED BY CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH MENTAL DISORDERS AT BUTABIKA NATIONAL PSYCHIATRIC REFERRAL HOSPITAL: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

VIOLET NAKABIRI; Jolly Magulu

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i9.571

Authors

Violet Nakabiri SCHOOL OF PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL OFFICERS, BUTABIKA
Jolly Magulu School of applied sciences, Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences https://orcid.org/

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i9.571

Keywords:

Caregiver burden, Parenting styles, Depression, Mental disorders, Children and adolescents

Abstract

Introduction; Caring for children and adolescents with mental disorders brings a unique set of stressors and challenges to the whole family. This study aimed to establish the proportion of caregiver burden for children with mental disorders and the parenting styles used by their primary caregivers.

Methodology; this was a cross-sectional study: 74 caregivers for children (1-17 years) receiving care at Butabika hospital were enrolled using consecutive sampling method. Caregiver burden was measured using Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and parenting styles assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). Data was analyzed descriptively, using SPSS v25.

Results; the mean age of caregivers 41± 9.7 years and were taking care of children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder 20(27.0%), psychotic disorder 16(21.6%), Bipolar Affective Disorder15(20.3%) and autism spectrum disorder 14(18.9%). The mean caregiver burden score was 41.8 ±21.5 and majority 24(32.4%) had moderate to severe burden with 79.7% at a risk of developing depression. Authoritative parenting style was the most preferred (mean = 4.1±1.0). The study revealed that there is no significant relationship between caregiver burden and parenting styles used.

Conclusion. There is substantial caregiver burden among caregivers of children with mental disorders with many at high risk for depression.

Recommendations; Caregivers using alternative methods of parenting such as permissive and authoritarian need training to adapt the recommended parenting method. We recommend that health workers take a lead role in embracing parent centered programs to support and relieve the parenting stress such as triple P (positive parenting program) for those entering the caregiving role. Further studies to determine association between parenting styles and the caregiver’s quality of life need to be done in order to adapt culturally acceptable interventions.

Author Biographies

Violet Nakabiri, SCHOOL OF PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL OFFICERS, BUTABIKA

Violet Nakabiri is a 25-year-old female from Makindye and a licensed Psychiatric Clinical Officer since 2022. She has worked under Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Butabika National Referral Hospital as a Research Assistant on both mental health and general medical research projects. Violet is currently pursuing neuroscience specifically a clinical program in Electroencephalogram (EEG) under Neurotech EEG Institute (USA).

Jolly Magulu, School of applied sciences, Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences

Jolly Magulu is a clinician who has contributed to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents in clinical, research and teaching capacities. He has worked in many organizations such as Ministry of health, Makerere university, Mbarara university, UNHCR, School of Psychiatric Clinical Officers, Butabika hospital and many other institutions. He is a certified CATT therapist and MhGAP Trainer of Trainers. Currently, his work is focused on children and adolescents with mental disorders under Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences and Mbarara university of Science and Technology while mentoring students completing their training in child and adolescent mental health especially during their practice at children's ward of Butabika National Referral Hospital.