Zarit index for evaluating caregiver burden in patients with special needs at the Tulcán Sur Health Centre, Carchi, Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction. Caregivers of patients with disabilities face physical, emotional, and financial burdens, which negatively impact their quality of life. The Zarit Scale is a validated tool for reliably measuring caregiver burden in various contexts. Objective. To determine the caregiver burden for patients with disabilities at Tulcán Sur Health Center, Ecuador, and identify the variables associated with this burden. Methodology. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 128 caregivers. Sociodemographic and clinical data, along with Zarit Burden Interview scores, were collected through surveys. Data were analyzed using Python and SPSS, employing descriptive statistics and multivariate correspondence analysis. Total variability was explained by 65% across two main dimensions with inertia values of 0.376 and 0.274. High internal consistency was achieved (Cronbach’s Alpha: 0.965 and 0.944). Results. Among caregivers, 58.6% (75) reported no burden, 29.7% (38) experienced a mild burden, and 11.7% (15) reported an intense burden. Significant associations were found for patient age (p < 0.01), caregiver educational level (p < 0.05), type of patient disability (p < 0.05), and caregiver kinship (p < 0.01). The multiple correspondence analysis highlighted key patterns among qualitative variables. Conclusion. The caregiver burden is significantly influenced by sociodemographic and clinical factors. These findings emphasize the need for tailored support strategies to reduce caregiver burden and improve their quality of life. General Area of Study: medicine. Specific area of study: caregiver burden in primary healthcare and disability. Type of study: original.