Isabel Mosquera Metcalfe1,2, Isabel Larrañaga Padilla3, María Del Río Lozano4,5, Carlos Calderón Gómez6, Mónica Machón Sobrado7,8,9,10, María Del Mar García Calvente4,5. 1. Departamento de Sociología 2. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y de la Comunicación. Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU. Leioa. Bizkaia. España. 2. OPIK - Grupo de Investigación en Determinantes Sociales de la Salud y Cambio Demográfico. Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU. Leioa. Bizkaia. España. 3. Departamento de Salud. Gobierno Vasco. San Sebastián. España. 4. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública. Granada. España. 5. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada. España. 6. Centro de salud de Alza. Osakidetza-Servicio Vasco de Salud. San Sebastián. España. 7. Unidad de Investigación de Atención Primaria-OSIs Gipuzkoa. Osakidetza-Servicio Vasco de Salud. San Sebastián. España. 8. Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC). Barakaldo. España. 9. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biodonostia. San Sebastián. España. 10. Kronikgune - Centro de Investigación en Cronicidad. Barakaldo. España.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The provision of informal care determines the existence of health inequalities, as well as gender inequalities, because of women being the most frequent caregivers. The objectives of this study were to characterize the informal caregivers of elderly dependents in Gipuzkoa, to know the impact of caring on health and health related quality of life (HRQoL), and to explain the relationship between sex and consequences attributable to care. METHODS: Cross-sectional study analyzing health (self-perceived health and GHQ-12) and HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L) data of 123 women and 103 men who took care of a dependent elderly and participated in the first wave of the CUIDAR-SE study in Gipuzkoa. A descriptive study was performed, and a logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between sex and the consequences attributable to care. RESULTS: Women and men were over 60 years old, married, with primary education or less, and took care of their parents mainly. Women presented worse perceived health (46.3% vs 32.0%) and mental health (23.3% vs 13.9%), and more problems in the dimensions of anxiety/depression (35.0% vs 21.4%) and pain/discomfort (52.8% vs 31.1%) of EQ-5D-5L.The regression model showed greater risk of fatigue (OR = 2.83; 95% CI:1.53-5.24) and burden (OR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.06-3.29) among women than among men. CONCLUSIONS: There are gender inequalities in the provision of informal care to dependent elderly people in Gipuzkoa, with women having a greater impact on their health and HRQoL than men. Considering the organization of care in this province, it will be necessary to design improvement actions more suited to the needs of caregivers.
OBJECTIVE: The provision of informal care determines the existence of health inequalities, as well as gender inequalities, because of women being the most frequent caregivers. The objectives of this study were to characterize the informal caregivers of elderly dependents in Gipuzkoa, to know the impact of caring on health and health related quality of life (HRQoL), and to explain the relationship between sex and consequences attributable to care. METHODS: Cross-sectional study analyzing health (self-perceived health and GHQ-12) and HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L) data of 123 women and 103 men who took care of a dependent elderly and participated in the first wave of the CUIDAR-SE study in Gipuzkoa. A descriptive study was performed, and a logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between sex and the consequences attributable to care. RESULTS: Women and men were over 60 years old, married, with primary education or less, and took care of their parents mainly. Women presented worse perceived health (46.3% vs 32.0%) and mental health (23.3% vs 13.9%), and more problems in the dimensions of anxiety/depression (35.0% vs 21.4%) and pain/discomfort (52.8% vs 31.1%) of EQ-5D-5L.The regression model showed greater risk of fatigue (OR = 2.83; 95% CI:1.53-5.24) and burden (OR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.06-3.29) among women than among men. CONCLUSIONS: There are gender inequalities in the provision of informal care to dependent elderly people in Gipuzkoa, with women having a greater impact on their health and HRQoL than men. Considering the organization of care in this province, it will be necessary to design improvement actions more suited to the needs of caregivers.
Entities:
Keywords:
Aged; Caregivers; Dependence; Gender; Health; Health inequalities; Informal care; Quality of life; Spain
Authors: María Del Río-Lozano; Mar García-Calvente; Belén Elizalde-Sagardia; Gracia Maroto-Navarro Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-31 Impact factor: 3.390