Experiences and outcomes of young carers living in low-and middle-income countries: a scoping review and narrative synthesis

Internationally, there is growing evidence suggesting that children and young people who assume the role of carer for ill relatives are negatively impacted. However, the evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) appear to be limited. This scoping review aimed to summarise and synthesise the available evidence on the experiences and outcomes of young carers (YCs) living in LMICs. CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, LILACS, AMED, and Google Scholar were searched until April 2023. Records were screened against predefined criteria and suitable articles were retrieved. Relevant information was then charted and summarised. Qualitative content analysis and a narrative synthesis was then conducted to identify overarching themes. From 776 records retrieved, 20 publications met our inclusion criteria. Most of the included studies were conducted in African countries, with the remaining studies in Malaysia, Pakistan, and Mexico. YCs included children and young people between 5 and 24 years who cared for parents, grandparents, and other elderly relatives. Six overarching themes describing the experiences and outcomes of YCs were identified. The themes described caring responsibilities, socio-cultural expectations, early employment and impact on education, social connections and mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing. Our findings highlight key factors that decision-makers should consider when developing policy and practice guidelines. More research is needed in underrepresented countries and understudied themes to help develop and evaluate suitable interventions and programmes.