Stress among the stroke caregivers at the centre for the rehabilitation of the paralyzed (CRP), Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Bangladesh. The World Health Organization ranks Bangladesh’s mortality rate due to stroke as number 124 in the world. The reported prevalence of stroke in Bangladesh is 6.72%, although no data on stroke incidence have been recorded. Hospital-based studies conducted in past decades have indicated that hypertension is the main cause of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in Bangladesh. The high number of disability-adjusted life-years lost due to stroke (53.59 per 100 000 people) show that stroke severely impacts Bangladesh’s economy. Purpose: To find out the stress among the stroke caregivers at the centre for the rehabilitation of the paralyzed (CRP), Bangladesh. Objectives: The objective of this study was to find out the level of stress of the stroke caregivers at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP), to explore the socio-demographic status of stroke caregivers, relationship between functional independence level of the patient and stress among the caregiver. Methodology: A Cross-sectional Study is conducted to determine the stress among the stroke caregivers at the centre for the rehabilitation of the paralyzed (CRP), Bangladesh. The data was collected by using a questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics through using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software version 23.0. Result: Among the 57 participants, most of them were of age range 31 to 40 years, 35.1% was male and 64.9% was female. Most of them was under SSC (6- 10) and the rest was 3.5%, 19.3%, 28.1%, 17.5%, 1.8% was illiterate, primary, SSC, HSC and graduate respectively. Most of the caregiver was housewife and the percentage was 56.1%. Almost 36.8% participants had family income like 21000 to 30000 taka. 84.2% participants had no sub-caregiver. 66.7% participants were taking care for more than 6 months and 89.5% were taking care for more than 17 hours in a day. 54.4% patient’s functional independence level was 41 to 60. Among the all participants 87.7% was in moderate stress level (14 to 26).