PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES OF CAREGIVING IN ACCRA

ABSTRACT

One of society‟s great resources for provision of care is its numerous family members who

provide care to ill or disabled relatives. However, family caregivers perform these essential

services for society and their relatives at considerable cost to themselves. Caregiving resulting in

a decline in physical and emotional health, increased depressive symptoms, and a decreased

sense of well-being. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between

caregiving and physical and mental health of respondents in Accra (Ga Mashie and

Agbogbloshie).

This study utilized the second round of EDULINK Urban Health and Poverty Project collected

among residents of Ga-Mashie (James Town and Ussher Town) and Agbogbloshie between

November 25th and December 22nd 2011. Binary logistic regression models were used to

determine the factors affecting physical and mental health.

Findings showed that majority of respondents were non-caregivers (89 percent) and more than

half of the respondents (56 percent) were females. About one-third of respondents (33.5 percent)

were aged 15 to 24 and about 23.5 percent been currently married. The majority of respondents

were Christians (79.8 percent). Empirical results from the binary logistic regression revealed that

caregiving was not related to physical and mental health. The results also revealed that age,

monthly income and chronic condition status were significantly related to physical health. In

addition, the result revealed that age, education, and monthly income were significantly related

to mental health. Public health interventions to improve physical health and mental health should

target the aged who are most vulnerable.

Keywords: Caregivers, Elderly, Physical health and Mental health.