Abstract:

Objectives: To determine the frequency of depression among the caregivers of disabled wounded persons. To find the association between socio demographic factors and depression among the primary care givers of disabled wounded persons. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation (AFIRM),Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH), Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health (AFIMH), Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO) Pakistan, from Mar to Sep 2018. Material and Methods: Sample size of 220 primary care givers was taken by using WHO sample calculator. Primary care givers who were the relatives (parents, wife, children, siblings) mentally fit between ages 16-74 years were included in the study. Hamilton rating scale for depression and General Health Questionnaire-12 were applied. This study is ethically approved by ethical institutional review board of AFPGMI and AFIRM. Results: By using Hamilton rating scale for depression less than 20% had moderate depression less than half (40%) of the primary care givers had mild depression, quarter (30%) had no depression. Majority of the female primary caregivers (69%) were suffering from severe depression while only quarter (30%) of male primary caregivers were suffering from severe depression (p=0.001). Conclusion: The study will help to provide an insight into the burden of the mental health issues like depression in order to formulate integrated, promotional and preventive interventions and services for the primary care givers of disable persons.

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