Characteristics of caregivers of mentally ill in Neiva, in december 2010 and january 2011 Características de los cuidadores de enfermos mentales en Neiva, diciembre 2010 y enero 2011

Abstract

Objective. With the purpose of knowing whether or not the mental health problem patient has a caregiver or not; and if it does, identify the caregivers' characteristics in order to know his socio-demographic conditions to get to his needs; to come out with legal mechanisms to form and specialized network with the intention of acquiring training and money from the state or other interested institution. Materials and methods. a quantitative study was performed, descriptive of transversal kind at HUHMP from Neiva city, December 2010 to January 2011 surveying 40 hospitalized patients and 28 caregivers. It was have into account variables such as age, gender, socioeconomic strata, occupation, and level of education, civil state, and income. Results. Most of the caregivers average 35 to 53 years old, from the Huila department, living on welfare, low strata, and low education, unemployed and without income. Conclusion. The study shows the abandonment of the mentally ill patient and caregivers by the governmental institutions, and, the need of creating a caregivers network to actively protect the family, patients, and caregivers.