The Social, Economic, Emotional, and Physical Experiences Of Caregivers for Women with Female Genital Fistula in Uganda: A Qualitative Study
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Date
2023-09-06
Journal Title
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Global public health
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the firsthand experiences of informal primary
caregivers of women with female genital fistula in Uganda. Caregivers that
accompanied women for surgery at Mulago National Teaching and
Referral Hospital were recruited between January and September 2015.
Caregivers participated in in-depth interviews and focus groups. Data
were analysed thematically and informed adaptation of a conceptual
framework. Of 43 caregivers, 84% were female, 95% family members,
and most married and formally employed. Caregivers engaged in
myriad personal care and household responsibilities, and described
being on call for an average of 22.5 h per day. Four overlapping themes
emerged highlighting social, economic, emotional, and physical
experiences/consequences. The caregiving experience was informed by
specific caregiver circumstances (e.g. personal characteristics, care
needs of their patient) and dynamic stressors/supports within the
caregiver’s social context. These results demonstrate that caregivers’
lived social, economic, emotional, and physical experiences and
consequences are influenced by both social factors and individual
characteristics of both the caregiver and their patient. This study may
inform programmes and policies that increase caregiving supports
while mitigating caregiving stressors to enhance the caregiving
experience, and ultimately ensure its feasibility, particularly in settings
with constrained resources.
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Citation
El Ayadi, A. M., Mitchell, A., Nalubwama, H., Miller, S., Semere, W., Barageine, J. K., ... & Byamugisha, J. (2023). The social, economic, emotional, and physical experiences of caregivers for women with female genital fistula in Uganda: A qualitative study. Global public health, 18(1), 2242458. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2023.2242458