Abasiubong Festus, Bassey Emem A, Ogunsemi Olawale O, Udobang John A
Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
AIDS Care. 2011 Apr;23(4):494-500. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2010.516340.
Despite the availability of anti-retroviral drugs and treatment, the care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS has continued to be a major challenge, with greater impact not only on the people living the disease. The burden associated with care often results in high level of stress among caregivers, usually manifesting as anxiety and/or depression. This study assesses the levels of stress among caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS in Niger Delta region of Nigeria, in order to determine their coping strategies. Between July and December 2008, 322 caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS attending HIV clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital were randomly assessed for stress (anxiety and depression), using Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20). A total of 293 caregivers comprising 98 (33.4%) males and 195 (66.6%) females were analysed. Mean age of males was 44.0 ± 4.5 years and females was 39.3 ± 4.0 years. The difference in the mean was statistically significant (p<0.001). Of the 293 caregivers, 191 (65.2%) and 115 (39.2%) were scored high on SDS and SRQ-20, respectively (representing the levels of stress). Using SDS groups on SRQ-20 subscales, 134 (45.7%) had anxiety only, 23 (7.8%) depression only, 52 (17.7%) had a mixture of anxiety and depression, while 11 (3.7%) exhibited suicidal tendencies. There is increasing level of stress in caregiving. Therefore, adequate attention must be given to the psychological well-being of caregivers to enable them contribute positively to the care of people living with HIV/AIDS.
尽管有抗逆转录病毒药物和治疗方法，但对艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者的护理和支持仍然是一项重大挑战，其影响不仅涉及感染者本人。护理带来的负担常常导致护理人员承受高度压力，通常表现为焦虑和/或抑郁。本研究评估了尼日利亚尼日尔三角洲地区艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者护理人员的压力水平，以确定他们的应对策略。2008年7月至12月期间，随机抽取了322名在阿约大学教学医院艾滋病毒诊所就诊的艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者的护理人员，使用zung氏自评抑郁量表（SDS）和自陈问卷（SRQ - 20）评估其压力（焦虑和抑郁）水平。共分析了293名护理人员，其中男性98名（33.4%），女性195名（66.6%）。男性的平均年龄为44.0±4.5岁，女性为39.3±4.0岁。平均年龄差异具有统计学意义（p<0.001）。在这293名护理人员中，分别有191名（65.2%）和115名（39.2%）在SDS和SRQ - 20上得分较高（代表压力水平）。根据SRQ - 20子量表上的SDS分组，134名（45.7%）仅有焦虑，23名（7.8%）仅有抑郁，52名（17.7%）既有焦虑又有抑郁，而11名（3.7%）有自杀倾向。护理工作中的压力水平在不断上升。因此，必须充分关注护理人员的心理健康，以使他们能够为艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者的护理工作做出积极贡献。
