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A little knowledge: Caregiver burden in schizophrenia in Malawi

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the relationship between schizophrenia knowledge and burden of care among caregivers of people with schizophrenia in Mzuzu, Malawi.

Method

We recruited 90 patients and 90 caregivers to a randomized, controlled trial of group caregiver education in schizophrenia. At baseline, we administered the Family Questionnaire, which measures caregivers’ knowledge of biomedical and psychosocial aspects of schizophrenia. We measured caregiver burden with the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire. Using multivariate analysis, we examined the relationship between knowledge and burden, controlling for other patient and caregiver variables. We hypothesised that knowledge and burden would be inversely related.

Results

Caregiver burden was associated with knowledge (p = 0.001), but contrary to our hypothesis, greater knowledge was associated with greater burden.

Conclusion

In this population, knowledge about schizophrenia was associated with higher caregiver burden. This does not prove that knowledge causes burden, but suggests that cultural factors may mediate the relationship between knowledge and burden, and that care is needed when introducing caregiver education in new cultures.

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Acknowledgements

The Mzuzu Caregiver Education RCT is funded by the Stanley Medical Research Institute. We are grateful to Brother Aidan Clohessy, Charles Masulani, Sharon Brady and our clinical colleagues in St John Of God Community Mental Health Services for their support for the study and comments on the manuscript. We thank Majid Lungu, Esnath Lungu, Emmanuel Nyoni and Christopher Muhone, who collaborated on translating research instruments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanley Research Unit, St John of God Community Mental Health Services, PO Box 744, Mzuzu, Malawi

    Anthony Sefasi, Niall Crumlish, Prince Samalani & Harris Chilale

  2. Stanley Research Unit, Cluain Mhuire Family Centre, St John of God Adult Psychiatric Service, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland

    Niall Crumlish & Eadbhard O’Callaghan

  3. DETECT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland

    Anthony Kinsella & Eadbhard O’Callaghan

  4. Dept. of Psychiatry, University College, Dublin, Ireland

    Eadbhard O’Callaghan

Authors
  1. Anthony Sefasi
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  2. Niall Crumlish
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  3. Prince Samalani
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  4. Anthony Kinsella
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  5. Eadbhard O’Callaghan
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  6. Harris Chilale
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harris Chilale.

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Sefasi, A., Crumlish, N., Samalani, P. et al. A little knowledge: Caregiver burden in schizophrenia in Malawi. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 43, 160–164 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0276-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0276-y

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