Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part B (2024)

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers of children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus at the Children’s Welfare Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, over four months. Data was collected via socio-demographic questionnaires and the Zarit burden questionnaire through direct face-to-face interviews. Statistical analyses included Pearson, Chi-square, and Fisher Exact tests.

Results: This study included 300 caregivers of children with Type 1 diabetes, with 97.3% being the patient’s mothers and an average age of 34.30±5.82 years. Caregiver burden was prevalent in all participants: 4.7% had mild, 42.3% had moderate, and 53% had severe burden. Severe burden was higher in mothers aged 30-34 years, housewives, low-educated parents, and low-income families. Patient factors significantly associated with severe burden included female sex, recent diagnosis, frequent hospital admissions for Diabetic Ketoacidosis, comorbidities, monthly doctor visits, uncontrolled diabetes, insulin administration difficulties, and dietary requirements.

Conclusion: Parents of children with T1DM face significant caregiver burden. These findings can guide medical professionals in creating comprehensive, family-centered care plans that address burden-raising factors and highlight the importance of community-based programs and ongoing family interventions to improve care quality.