Impact of COVID-19 Lock Down on Quality of Life among Primary Caregivers of Individuals with Schizophrenia in Rural Areas

Utomo Utomo; Eko Mulyadi; Endang Fauziyah

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2023.10750

Authors

Utomo Utomo Department of Islamic Religious Education, Faculty of Islamic Religion, University of Muhammadiyah, Malang, Indonesia
Eko Mulyadi Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, University of Wiraraja, Sumenep, Indonesia
Endang Fauziyah Department of Nursing, Madura State Polytechnic, Sampang, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8595-2315

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2023.10750

Keywords:

Quality of life, Primary caregivers, Schizophrenia, Covid-19, Lockdown

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The lockdown would become the primary strategy for facing covid-19 as it quickly mutates which might cause repeated pandemics; however, it negatively affects individuals’ quality of life (QOL). The schizophrenia caregivers experience considerable stress. The research on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on QOL of schizophrenia caregivers is essential, especially for those who reside in rural areas.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the impact of lockdown-related COVID-19 on QOL among primary caregivers of schizophrenia patients living in a rural area.

METHODS: This study recruited 204 primary caregivers (15–79 years). This study used the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) to asses QOL’s primary caregiver. Evaluate the possible change in caregivers’ QOL before and during the COVID-19 lockdown using paired t-test for repeated measures.

RESULTS: The mean age of the caregivers was 46.61 years (SD = 12.79), ranging from 15 to 79 years, with a preponderance of male (54.5%), aged 38–47 years old (29.7%), married (81.2%), employed (57.4%), and had senior high school level of education (34.7%). Majority were parents (26.2%) of the ill relative, and took care of the patients more than 5 years (52.5%). There was a statistical difference (p < 0.05) in caregivers’ QOL between before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, including in physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environment domain.

CONCLUSION: Implementing a lockdown policy related to COVID-19 has negatively impacted the caregivers’ QOL. The degradation of caregivers’ QOL showed from before to during COVID-19 lockdown. Further study needs to explore the QOL of other mental illness caregivers regarding COVID-19 lockdown. This finding becomes a reference for a government to modify some policy-related lockdowns to minimize their negative impact.

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