Anxiety and Depression among Family Caregivers of Children with Epilepsy in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background Epilepsy is a common and chronic neurological disorder influencing children's cognitive and behavioral performance. Primary caregivers of children with epilepsy (CWE) report high levels of depression and anxiety. Patients and Methods We performed a cross-sectional study on caregivers of CWE in the Neurology Department of Yalgado Ouédraogo University Teaching Hospital from May 7, 2020 to August 18, 2020. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale and Beck Depression Inventory scale were assessed to screen anxiety and depression. Results One hundred caregivers with a mean age of 37.75 ± 10.69 years were included in the study. The majority of them were female gender (73%), aged <40 years (59%), and residing in rural areas (79%). Most of caregivers were female gender (73%) and the mothers of children (67%). The majority of CWE were boys (55%), having generalized epilepsy (55%) and epilepsy duration less than 6 years (74%). Anxiety was observed in 56%, depression in 27%, and both anxiety and depression in 23% of caregivers. The factors influencing anxiety among caregivers were female gender (p = 0.04), being patient's mothers (p = 0.04), and caring male patients (p = 0.04). The factors associated with caregiver's depression were being married (p = 0.03) and caring patients with five seizures per year (p = 0.04). Conclusion The study revealed very high rates of anxiety and depressive disorder among caregivers of CWE in Burkina Faso.