A Comparative Study of Burden in Caregivers of Children with Intellectual Disability and Chronic Medical Illnesses

Background: In a developing country such as India, family members play a vital role of caregivers in managing children with intellectual disability (ID) and medical illnesses. Caregivers encounter high degrees of physical, emotional, and financial stress in both the conditions. Aim: To study and compare the caregiver burden among the caregivers of children with ID (Group 1) and chronic medical illnesses (Group 2). Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on caregivers of children with ID and chronic medical illnesses who attended psychiatric and pediatric outpatient department, respectively, of a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad. Zarit burden interview scale was administered to caregivers of both groups to assess the severity of burden. Results: One hundred caregivers (50 each from both groups) participated in the study. The majority of caregivers in ID i.e. 48% reported mild burden, 28% moderate, 4% severe, and 20% no burden. Caregivers of children with medical illness reported 46% mild burden, 16% moderate, 10% severe, and 28% no burden. The mean burden scores of Group 1 was 35.06 ± 12.078, slightly higher than Group 2 (32.72 ± 14.02). Difference across both the groups did not reach level of significance ( P = 0.065). The association between the duration of caregiving and severity of burden was found to be statistically significant in Group 2 ( P = 0.0271). Caregiver burden was found to be more in females in Group 1 ( P = 0.04). Conclusion: Caregivers of both ID and chronic medical illnesses experience burden, severity of which is slightly higher among the caregivers of children with ID. Hence, psychoeducation to caregivers about illness, supportive counseling, group therapies to educate, orient, and support each other are recommended.