A qualitative investigation of the psychosocial services utilised by care-givers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in southwestern Uganda
Open Access
- 15 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Ageing and Society
- Vol. 43 (7), 1603-1616
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0144686x21001276
Abstract
Individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias often require substantial support from other people. Much of the care-giving is from family members who eventually experience physical, emotional and financial stress, depression and fatigue. In Uganda, families are a cornerstone in providing care to individuals with dementia. However, little is known about the psychosocial supports available to the care-givers in their care-giving role. We assessed the psychosocial supports available to care-givers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in southwestern Uganda. We conducted 34 in-depth interviews at three referral hospitals at which care-givers identified by the treating clinicians were approached for informed consent. The interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached, and the interviews were translated and transcribed. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. Care-giver supports were structured into two major themes: medical supports utilised and supports beyond the medical care system. Medical supports highlighted information provided by medical professionals. Supports beyond the medical care system included emotional and instrumental supports provided by religious leaders, the local communities and family members. Care-givers for individuals with dementia in southwestern Uganda receive educational support from medical practitioners, and unstructured emotional and instrumental supports from the family and community.Keywords
Funding Information
- Fogarty International Center (D43TW010128)
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Understanding the needs of family caregivers of older adults dying with dementiaPalliative & Supportive Care, 2013
- Caregiver Health: Health of Caregivers of Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia PatientsCurrent Psychiatry Reports, 2013
- Chronic disease prevalence and care among the elderly in urban and rural Beijing, China - a 10/66 Dementia Research Group cross-sectional surveyBMC Public Health, 2009
- Caregiver self-efficacy for managing behavioural problems of older people with dementia in Taiwan correlates with care receivers’ behavioural problemsJournal of Clinical Nursing, 2009
- Helping carers to care—The 10/66 dementia research group's randomized control trial of a caregiver intervention in RussiaInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2008
- The epidemiology of dependency among urban-dwelling older people in the Dominican Republic; a cross-sectional surveyBMC Public Health, 2008
- The Effectiveness of a Home Care Program for Supporting Caregivers of Persons with Dementia in Developing Countries: A Randomised Controlled Trial from Goa, IndiaPLOS ONE, 2008
- Systematic review of the effect of psychological interventions on family caregivers of people with dementiaJournal of Affective Disorders, 2007
- Using thematic analysis in psychologyQualitative Research in Psychology, 2006
- Psychiatric and Physical Morbidity Effects of Dementia Caregiving: Prevalence, Correlates, and CausesThe Gerontologist, 1995