Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Their Associated Factors Among Caregivers of Children With Cancer A Cross-section Study

Background: A child's cancer diagnosis and treatment are stressful for family caregivers, who may experience anxiety, depressive symptoms, and poor health -related quality of life (HRQoL) related to the care they provide. Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, HRQoL, and associated factors among caregivers of children with cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 167 caregivers of children with cancer in Malawi. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify the determinants of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and HRQoL. Results: All 167 caregivers who consented to participate in this study completed all the questionnaires. Severe anxiety and severe depressive symptoms accounted for 17.5% and 10.2%, respectively. Being Muslim (B= 7.800, P< .001) and Pentecostal (B= 3.067, P = .023) by religious denominations was more likely to be anxious, whereas Catholic caregivers (B = 3.702, P= .033) were more likely to be depressed. Being unemployed was more likely to result in lower anxiety (B = -4.080, P= .016). Furthermore, caregivers demonstrated a lower mental health component (mean, 39.33 [SD, 6.35]), whereas being a female and aged between 31 and 40 years was more likely to result in better physical health (B = 3.962 [P = .031] and B = 3.415 [P = .020], respectively). Conclusion: This study supports evidence that caregivers of children experience moderate and severe anxiety and depressive symptoms and poor HRQoL in Malawi. Implication for Practice: Nurses need to include psychological interventions for caregivers of children with cancer during childcare.