Abstract
IntroductionStudies on female caregiver burden and its determinants in relation to physical environment and social support in low-income and middle-income countries are limited. This study evaluates the relationship between caregiving physical environment, social support and well-being of female caregivers and care recipients in Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsOne hundred (100) each of black African and coloured female caregivers from two different population settlements were randomly selected. Structured questionnaire was employed to gather information from caregivers. Description and correlation analyses were used to examine the association between health status of care recipients, environmental hygiene factors and female caregiver burden.ResultsAbout 49.5% of the female caregivers were between 50-59 years and worked full-time (≥40 hours per week). Better hygiene environment and working conditions are major determinants of caregiver burden and care recipient's physical health. Better hygiene conditions in the kitchen and toilet significantly increased care recipients' and caregivers’ physical health (P<0.05). Diarrhoea was found to be significantly associated with poorer environmental hygiene. Over 50% of the reported diarrhoea cases were among care recipients with poorer kitchen and toilet hygiene. Bad environmental hygiene increased the risk of diarrhoea among care recipients and caregivers. Physical health of the care recipients and social grants influenced the burden on the female caregiver.ConclusionIncrease social grants and attention to environmental conditions of caregiving will improve the physical health and living standard of the care recipients and caregivers.
Highlights
In South Africa, both empirical and anecdotal evidence posit that poverty and inequality continue to detract from what some sections of the population have referred to as a ‘miracle transition’ [1]
Study design, setting and data source: this study adopted the Stress Process Model (SPM) [18] that is largely consistent with other models such as the Lazarus and Folkman's model (1984) that provides a framework for explaining the processes involved when a person attempts to cope with stressful events
The SPM was used to evaluate caregiving environment hygiene, physical health and determinants of female caregiver burden (FCBur) within two low-income communities living in government housing in Cape Town, South Africa
Summary
In South Africa, both empirical and anecdotal evidence posit that poverty and inequality continue to detract from what some sections of the population have referred to as a ‘miracle transition’ [1]. The most recent planning documents, the National Development Plan (NDP) and Vision for 2030, are anchored by two fundamental objectives; the elimination of poverty and reduction of inequality, and the recognition that the country faces a triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. In response to these constraints, a plethora of strategies for poverty reduction and improved health of the population have been introduced since 1994. Despite its upper middle-income status, the country still faces persistent socioeconomic difficulties that the South African government describes as its triple challenge (poverty, unemployment and inequality) with embedded health issues [2, 3]
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