A study to assess the burden and perceived stigma among caregivers of patient with schizophrenia at Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Dharwad (DIMHANS)

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The level of stigma associated to mental illness is much higher than that is already perceived in India. Though some studies in western culture have reported co-relation between stigma and burden, amongst family members of persons with mental illness. There are few studies carried out in India that co-relates stigma with burden of schizophrenia caregiver’s. There is a need to highlight the association between perceived stigma and level of burden among caregivers of patient with schizophrenia.Methods: A quantitative cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess and correlate the burden and perceived stigma among caregiver of schizophrenia patients at DIMHANS Dharwad during Jan- April 2017. 100 caregivers of schizophrenia patients who are attending outpatient department or admitted at psychiatric wards were selected based on convenient sampling technique. The data were collected by using Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) and Affiliate Stigma Scale. Interview was used to collect data from caregivers. Result: Among the total 100 respondents 64% were male, 81% were married, 88% belonged to Hindu religion and proportion participants were residing rural area. The mean burden scores of caregivers were 36.35±3.68 and mean perceived stigma scores were 53.94±4.41. Out of 100 participants 78% have high burden and 57% have high perceived stigma scores. There was a significant positive correlation between perceived stigma and burden among caregivers of schizophrenia patients. The association between perceived stigma and burden with socio-demographic variables revealed that there was a significant association between gender, income and duration of illness with burden (x2=4.21, p=0.04, x2=5.65, p=0.01, x2=8.68, p=0.03). There was a significant association between type of family with perceived stigma (x2=4.61, p=0.03).