Abstract:
Objectives: Due to the growing elderly population, the high cost of care in Ghana and low
coverage of the National Health Insurance Scheme, demands for family caregiving have
become more imperative in Ghana than ever before. Many caregivers experience high
burdens, yet literature on caregiving in Ghana is lacking. This study examined caregiver
profiles and determinants of the burden of caregiving in Ghana.
Study design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: This study used data from Wave 1 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Study
on Global Ageing and Adult Health (2007e2008). In total, 238 caregivers were analysed in
the study. The burden of caregiving was measured using the WHO Impact of Caregiving
Scale. Independent sample t-tests, correlations and analysis of variance were used to
investigate associations between background characteristics and the burden of caregiving.
Linear regression was used to examine determinants of the burden of caregiving.
Results: The mean age of caregivers was 61 years (standard deviation 14.5), and the
male:female ratio was approximately equal. On average, approximately two adults per
household required care. Less than five percent of caregivers received financial, emotional,
health, physical and personal care support. Place of residence, provision of financial, health
and physical support to care recipients, and receipt of financial, physical and health support
were significant determinants of the burden of caregiving.
Conclusions: This study found a mismatch between the number of people needing care and
the number of people providing care. In order to improve the health of caregivers and care
recipients, there is a need to provide financial support for caregivers. In addition, procaregiving
government programmes and policies should be established.
