Assessment of Caregiver Burden Among Relatives of Patients with Dementia in Ibadan, Oyo State

Dementia caregiving imposes substantial psychological, financial, and social burdens on family members, particularly in settings where institutional care is scarce. This study assesses caregiver burden among relatives of patients with dementia attending the memory clinic at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 160 primary caregivers through consecutive sampling. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) will measure caregiver burden, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will screen for caregiver depression. Data on duration of caregiving, relationship to patient, employment status, and social support will be captured. Multivariate regression will identify independent predictors of burden. Literature from South West Nigeria indicates that dementia caregiving is predominantly assumed by female relatives with limited knowledge of the disease, leading to chronic stress and physical deterioration. This study will generate data relevant to caregiver support program design and will inform Oyo State health policy regarding respite care and community support for dementia families. Keywords: caregiver burden, dementia, Ibadan, Zarit Burden Interview, family caregiving