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. 2024 May 31;19(5):e0304821.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304821. eCollection 2024.

Informal caregiving among people supporting a person with type 2 diabetes in rural communities of Northern Vietnam: A cross-sectional study of caregiver burdens

Dieu Huyen Thi Bui  1 , Bai Xuan Nguyen  1 , Jens Søndergaard  2 , Tine M Gammeltoft  3 , Ib Christian Bygbjerg  4 , Jannie Nielsen  5 , Dan Wolf Meyrowitsch  4
Affiliations

Informal caregiving among people supporting a person with type 2 diabetes in rural communities of Northern Vietnam: A cross-sectional study of caregiver burdens

Dieu Huyen Thi Bui et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Vietnam has doubled from 3% to 6% over the last decades, with potential consequences for persons with diabetes and their caregivers. This study aimed to assess caregiver burdens and factors associated with caregiver burden.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019, using data from 1,241 informal caregivers (ICGs). Caregiver burden was scored from 0-32 using 8 questions from the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Quantile regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with caregiver burden.

Results: The median score of the ZBI was 7.0 (Q1-Q3: 2.0-10.0), indicating that the burden among caregiver of persons with T2DM is not high. Quantile regression showed that the higher the monthly income, the lower the burden among caregivers (50% quantile and 75% quantile of burden: -0.004). Lower educational level (25%Q: 4.0, 50%Q; 3.0, 75%Q: 2.16), being a farmer (25%Q: 2.0) and providing care to other people besides the person with T2DM (25%Q: 2.0, 50%Q; 2.54, 75%Q: 1.66) were associated with higher burden on caregivers.

Conclusion: The study found that caregivers facing additional life stressors, such as low income or other caregiving responsibilities, reported higher levels of burden. These findings could inform the development of interventions targeted at supporting informal caregivers in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flowchart of recruitment of informal caregivers.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Responses to 7 burden questions (percentage).
Q1: Do you feel stressed between caring for the person with T2DM and trying to meet other responsibilities for your family or work? Q2: Do you feel strained when around person with T2DM? Q3: Do you feel uncertain about what to do about person with T2DM? Q4: Do you feel that because of the time you spend with person with T2DM you do not have enough time for yourself? Q5: Are you afraid of what the future holds for the person with T2DM? Q6: Do you feel that you do not have enough money to take care of person with T2DM in addition to the rest of your expenses? Q7: Do you feel that one should be doing more for person with T2DM?
Fig 3
Fig 3. Responses to 8th burden question (percentages).
Q8) Overall, how often do you feel burdened by caring for person with diabetes?
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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