Table 1 Demographic characteristics of caregivers and illness related characteristics of their patients
Characteristic | Number | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
Gender | ||
Male | 36 | 45.0 |
Female | 44 | 55.0 |
Ethnicity | ||
Sinhala | 77 | 96.3 |
Tamil | 2 | 2.5 |
Muslim | 1 | 1.3 |
Having permanent employment | 32 | 40.0 |
Income* (Rs) | ||
Less than 5000 | 19 | 23.8 |
5001 – 15,000 | 26 | 32.5 |
15,001 – 25,000 | 20 | 25.0 |
More than 25,000 | 15 | 18.7 |
Level of education | ||
No formal education | 3 | 3.8 |
Primary education | 9 | 11.3 |
Secondary education | 62 | 77.6 |
Tertiary education | 6 | 7.6 |
Concurrent chronic medical problems** | 37 | 46.3 |
Substance use | ||
Alcohol | 18 | 22.5 |
Nicotine | 12 | 15.0 |
Other | ||
Relationship to patient | ||
Child | 33 | 41.2 |
Parent | 11 | 13.7 |
Sibling | 13 | 16.2 |
Spouse | 10 | 12.5 |
Other relation | 9 | 11.2 |
Paid caregiver (non related) | 4 | 5.0 |
Illness | ||
Schizophrenia | 65 | 81.3 |
Bipolar affective disorder | 15 | 18.7 |
Disease activity | ||
Active | 71 | 88.7 |
In remission | 9 | 11.3 |
Duration of illness | ||
Less than one year | 15 | 18.7 |
1-5 years | 20 | 25.0 |
More than 5 years | 45 | 56.3 |