The Economic Cost and Burden of Informal Caregiving for the Inpatient: The Case of Lemlem Karl Hospital, Maichew, Ethiopia

Habtamu Legese,Desalew Mossie,Kidist Tibebu,Ayenew Endalew

doi:10.11648/j.ijeee.20200502.11

Abstract

The objective of this study is to present new empirical findings about the economics of informally supplied health care with special emphasis on the labor market-related opportunity cost and to measure the burden of informal caregiving for the inpatient at Lemlem Karl hospital, Maichew, Ethiopia. The study employs ordinary list square and ordered logit method of regression. In addition, the study also employed measurement mechanisms like; opportunity cost, proxy good and Zarit Burden Scale. The mean time spent on informal caregiving was 73.18 hours/4.1days and the mean cost of informal caregiving for the inpatient at Lemlem Care Hospital by using the opportunity cost and proxy good valuation method is 689.56birr (23.74$) and 724.653 birr (24.5$) per 4.1 days respectively. The study also measures caregiver’s burden level by using Zarit Burden Scale and the result depict that of the total respondents 51 (38.06%) affected by moderate caregiving burden and followed by 41 (30.60%) of the respondents with little caregiving burden. To reduce the cost and burden of principal informal caregivers and to fill this gap the following policy recommendations are made based on the findings of the study and the experience of the rest of the world. Enable informal caregivers to balance personal and social life with care responsibilities through respite care, develop and deploy a national caregiving strategy and the strategy should at a minimum include three policies; (a) Policy Related to Workplace Accommodation; (b) Financial Assistance policy; (c) Investment in informal caregiving research and development related projects.

Highlights

IntroductionFormal caregivers are health-care professionals (HCPs) including nurses, personal support workers, rehabilitation specialists, and physicians who, are paid for the care and support they provide to the patients or clients
The general objective of this study is to present new empirical findings of the economics of informally supplied health care with special emphasis on the labor market-related opportunity cost and to measure the burden of informal caregiving for the inpatient at Lemlem Karl hospital, Maichew, Ethiopia
Informal caregiving is routine and ongoing. It arises out of a relationship with the informal care recipient in response to the demand for support which is greater than normally expected level due to their inability

Summary

Introduction

Formal caregivers are health-care professionals (HCPs) including nurses, personal support workers, rehabilitation specialists, and physicians who, are paid for the care and support they provide to the patients or clients. Friends, or neighbors who provide unpaid practical support for those in need of assistance [1]. Informal caregivers, typically family members or friends, provide care to individuals with a variety of conditions including advanced age, dementia, and cancer. This experience is commonly perceived as a chronic stressor, and caregivers often experience negative psychological, behavioral, and physiological effects on their daily lives and health [2]. Different researchers and institutions define the term informal care and the people who provide informal care for those in need of assistance differently. [4] defines caregiving as “the provision of personal services to meet the physical and mental needs that allow a person to function at a socially

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Conclusion