Level of stress perception and predictors of higher stress perception among informal primary caregivers of Eastern Indian people living with HIV/AIDS

ABSTRACT

Background: HIV illness and its related problems were significantly and positively correlated with both caregiver’s burden and caregiver’s adjustment. As there were limited studies on HIV caregiver’s stress, present study was conducted to estimate the magnitude and level of perceived stress among the predominant informal care giver of the PLHIV and to find out its correlates.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study conducted on informal primary caregiver of PLHIV who was receiving ART since more than 2 months and attending the FIART centre of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Bankura between July 2018 to December 2018. PLHIV who were severely ill and informal caregivers having a psychological illness, disability, a severe form of chronic diseases except for HIV, were excluded. Data were collected using predesigned, pretested, semi-structured interviewer administered anonymous questionnaire including 10 points Sheldon Cohen’s perceived stress scale (PSS) following simple random sampling method. Multivariate logistic regression was done to find out the predictors of higher stress using SPSS software version 22.0.Results: Ultimately 108 caregivers were included. Mean score of PSS was 19.93±11.44 and score ranges from 0 to 40. In multivariate linear regression, it was found that caregiver who were belonging to lowest socio economic status were 3.9 times more perceive moderate to high stress than others. If HIV patients were suffering from other co-morbidities their primary caregiver perceived moderate to high stress 6.2 times more than others.Conclusions: Support group interaction among caregivers can alleviate the stress