TY - JOUR KW - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health KW - Infectious Diseases AU - Amoako YA AU - Ackam N AU - Omuojine J AU - Oppong MN AU - Owusu-Ansah AG AU - Abass MK AU - Amofa G AU - Ofori E AU - Frimpong M AU - Bailey F AU - Molyneux DH AU - Phillips RO AU - Fuller C AB - Background Buruli ulcer disease (BUD) results in disabilities and deformities in the absence of early medical intervention. The extensive role of caregiving in BUD is widely acknowledged, however, associated caregiver burden is poorly understood. In this paper we assessed the burden which caregivers experience when supporting patients with BUD in Ghana. Method/ principal findings This qualitative study was conducted in 3 districts in Ghana between August and October 2019. 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted on caregivers of BUD patients in the local language of Twi. Data was translated into English, coded into broad themes, and direct content analysis approach was used to analyse results. The results show the caregivers face financial, psychological and health issues as a consequence of their caregiving role. Conclusion/ significance This study found significant caregiver burden on family members. It also highlighted the psychological burden caregivers experience and the limited knowledge of the disease within endemic communities. Further research is needed to quantify the caregiver burden of BUD at different economic levels in order to better understand the impact of possible caregiver interventions on patient outcomes. BT - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009454 IS - 6 LA - eng N2 - Background Buruli ulcer disease (BUD) results in disabilities and deformities in the absence of early medical intervention. The extensive role of caregiving in BUD is widely acknowledged, however, associated caregiver burden is poorly understood. In this paper we assessed the burden which caregivers experience when supporting patients with BUD in Ghana. Method/ principal findings This qualitative study was conducted in 3 districts in Ghana between August and October 2019. 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted on caregivers of BUD patients in the local language of Twi. Data was translated into English, coded into broad themes, and direct content analysis approach was used to analyse results. The results show the caregivers face financial, psychological and health issues as a consequence of their caregiving role. Conclusion/ significance This study found significant caregiver burden on family members. It also highlighted the psychological burden caregivers experience and the limited knowledge of the disease within endemic communities. Further research is needed to quantify the caregiver burden of BUD at different economic levels in order to better understand the impact of possible caregiver interventions on patient outcomes. PB - Public Library of Science (PLoS) PY - 2021 EP - e0009454 T2 - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases TI - Caregiver burden in Buruli ulcer disease: Evidence from Ghana UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0009454&type=printable VL - 15 SN - 1935-2735 ER -