International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology
Open Access

Abstract

Perceived Burden among Caregivers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities at the Telema Mental Health Center in Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Germain Manzekele Bin Kitoko, Bives Mutume Nzanzu Vivalya*, Joseph Tusamba Kimpene, Christine Laure Babong, Clement Mwanza, Martial MumbereVagheni, Sam Mampunza Lusambulu, Magloire Nkosi Mpembi, Thierry Matonda-Ma-Nzuzil Gilbert Mananga Lelo, Samuel Mampunza Ma Miezi

Background: Caregiving for children with disabilities contributes to the burden on family members, leading to the long-term outcomes of intellectually disabled children. The determinants of caregiving for children with intellectual disabilities have not been deeply established. This study aimed to determine the extent and factors associated with the burden of care for children with intellectual disabilities attending a mental health day center in a low-income country.

Methods: This cross-sectional study purposely screened for burden using the Zarit burden scale among forty caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities attending a mental health day center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Descriptive analyses were used to determine information on frequency rates and patterns of burden, whereas inferential analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with the burden of caring for children with intellectual disabilities.

Results: One in four caregivers of intellectually disabled children has a burden. Caregivers younger than 45 years were 3.22 times more likely to perceive the burden compared to those aged 45 or older (AOR: 3.22; 95% CI: 1.35-5.40; Fisher test=0.019). Caregivers who were unemployed were 2.16 times more likely to perceive the burden compared to those who were employed (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.67-4.18; p=0.001). Caregivers who were first-degree family members of the intellectually disabled children were 0.36 times less likely to perceive burden while caring for them compared to those who were second-degree family members (AOR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.12-0.78; Fisher=0.043).

Conclusion: Our results highlight the high prevalence of burden among caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities. The determinants of burden that caregivers of intellectually disabled children perceived as mild and moderate burdens were the age below 45 years, employment and being married and unemployed. Our results raise a global health policy issue and reveal the need to address the perceived burden of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities along the mainstream healthcare continuum for intellectually disabled children.

Published Date: 2025-04-18; Received Date: 2024-07-24