Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health
ISSN: 3065-9078 | DOI: 10.64030/3065-9078
Tendai Chisamba
Background Childhood cancer prevalence is at 262 281 globally all cases in 2020, (WHO,2020 cancer profile). Pediatric is a special population with unique palliative care needs. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges the significance of family caregiving roles for sick children, especially in the case of cancer and other chronic diseases. (Harding et al, 2020). Studies suggests that family interventions increase pediatric cancer patients’ survival rate to over 80% for sick children in High-Income Countries. However, the depiction is different for Low-and-Middle-Income Countries such as Zimbabwe in sub-Saharan Africa where survival rates for childhood cancer stands at around 20% Shah et al., (2018 in Bekui et al 2020).
Objectives The main objective of this study explored the care rendered to care givers of childhood cancer patients regarding burden and stress management.
Results Sixty-eight (68) care givers were enrolled in the study with the majority (n=43; 63.2%) being females and aged more than 35 years (n=33; 49%). In addition, the age distribution differed between males and females (p<0.001) with male participants likely to be older as compared to females (n=21; 84% vs n=12; 28%). More specifically, there were no male participants at most 25 years old. Additionally, the vast number of participants were either formally employed (25%) or informally employed (44%) and there was a disproportionate employment status by sex (p=0.007). The type of cancer was associated with whether the condition was intermittent or progressive (p=0.039). Most of the caregivers reported that they have difficulties in sleeping (n=47; 69%) and find it emotional discussing the child condition (n=48; 71%). Most caregivers (n=49;72%) reported that it was constrained, and this was borderline associated with sex, with male caregivers likely to report a supportive social network as compared to females (n=10; 40% vs n=9; 21%)., caregivers mostly indicated that they were spiritually detached (54%) since child illness and this was more reported in females as compared to males (n=10; 40% vs n=27; 63%). Most caregivers indicated lack of church support (n=42; 62%) and they never interacted with the hospital Chaplin (n=62; 91%).
Conclusion The findings from this study confirms that care givers of childhood cancer patients are burdened and there is need for a multidimensional approach in addressing their burden and stress. There is also need for a tool for assessment and classification of the caregiver burden and stress for proper and comprehensive care and management.