The burden and psychosocial impact on immediate caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury in a tertiary health facility,Edo State,Nigeria

Objective:This study aimed to assess the burden and psychosocial impact of spinal cord injury on the immediate caregivers at a tertiary health facility in Benin City,Edo State.Materials and Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted among 73 family caregivers in the neurological ward of a tertiary health facility using a structured questionnaire as instrument of data collection.Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression.Results:Findings revealed that an overall mean of 2.73 indicates that the burden on the caregivers was moderate with a moderate psychological impact(m=2.88)and a high sociological impact(m=3.12).Factors affecting the caregiving provided by immediate caregivers include social and household responsibilities(94.5%),financial situation(89.0%),family support(83.6%),and health status of the caregiver(80.8%).Age(odds ratio[OR]=5.67,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.23-27.17,P=0.027),education(OR=3.75,95%CI:1.05-13.39,P=0.041),and“others”(spouses,siblings,friends,or extended family members)(OR=3.167,95%CI:1.583-6.337,P=0.001)were predictors for high psychological impact while education(OR=0.074;95%CI:0.015-0.370,P=0.001)and caregiving role(OR=3.167;95%CI:0.1.583-6.337,P=0.001)high sociological impact.Conclusion:Majority of the caregivers experience moderate burden,moderate psychological impact,and high sociological impact.Understanding these factors is essential for developing targeted interventions and support services to address the unique needs of caregivers and mitigate the burden of caregiving on their psychosocial health.

Detrimental Effects of COVID-19 Measures on Mental Health and Social-Economic Disparities

The COVID-19 pandemic has struck nations worldwide,pushing worldwide health and socioeconomic systems to extreme limits.Various factors,such as drastic alterations in public environments,prolonged quarantine,revenue loss,and anxiety of disease contraction,have caused mental turmoil.Although there was a need to cope with an excess of psychological strain among the public,post-COVID patients,and those with a previously diagnosed psychiatric condition,mental health programs faced a substantial decline in services,mirroring the dramatic rise in psychological issues.Interestingly,certain coping strategies play protective or deleterious effects on mental health outcomes.Moreover,social media exposure has played a double-edged role in the mental health of the public during the pandemic,leaving grounds for further debates.Protean cultural themes have taken center stage in the discussion on social resilience and compliance to COVID-19 measures,driving their impact through cer-tain work ethics,social capital,and public attitudes in different societies.On the other hand,exceedingly rising poverty rates cemented the deleterious economic impact of the pandemic.Attention has been called to the racial implications of the pandemic,driving millions of individuals with low socioeconomic position(SEP)and belong-ing to minority groups out of the paid workforce.Interestingly,we turn attention to an array of elements impli-cated in this dramatic effect,such as public transport,living arrangements,and health insurance coverage among these vulnerable groups.We attempt to address the mechanisms COVID-19 channeled its mental health and socioeconomic impacts by explaining the risk factors and pave the way for stronger crisis management in the future by evaluating the socioeconomic and psychological effects in stark detail.