Background Epilepsy is a common and chronic neurological disorder influencing children's cognitive and behavioral performance. Primary caregivers of children with epilepsy (CWE) report high levels of depression and anxiety.

Patients and Methods We performed a cross-sectional study on caregivers of CWE in the Neurology Department of Yalgado Ouédraogo University Teaching Hospital from May 7, 2020 to August 18, 2020. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale and Beck Depression Inventory scale were assessed to screen anxiety and depression.

Results One hundred caregivers with a mean age of 37.75 ± 10.69 years were included in the study. The majority of them were female gender (73%), aged <40 years (59%), and residing in rural areas (79%). Most of caregivers were female gender (73%) and the mothers of children (67%). The majority of CWE were boys (55%), having generalized epilepsy (55%) and epilepsy duration less than 6 years (74%). Anxiety was observed in 56%, depression in 27%, and both anxiety and depression in 23% of caregivers. The factors influencing anxiety among caregivers were female gender (p = 0.04), being patient's mothers (p = 0.04), and caring male patients (p = 0.04). The factors associated with caregiver's depression were being married (p = 0.03) and caring patients with five seizures per year (p = 0.04).

Conclusion The study revealed very high rates of anxiety and depressive disorder among caregivers of CWE in Burkina Faso.

The confidentiality of patients data was taken into account and the informed oral consent of the parents was obtained before the start of the interview. Parents suspected of having generalized anxiety or depressive disorder were referred to the psychiatric department of management

A.A.D., B.B., A.D., Z.B., and J.M.A.K. had contributed to the data collection or processing, analysis or interpretation, literature research and writing. C.N., K.K., and J.K. had contributed to concept and design of the study. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Publication Date:
18 February 2022 (online)

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