142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

309348
Role of the Caregiver in Trujillo, Peru: An Evaluation of the Cost of Caring for the Disabled

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Claudia Llanten, MD, MPH , Calle Las Camelias, 855 Departmento 301, Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), Lima, Peru
Erin Snyder Ulric, MPH , Catholic Medical Mission Board, New York, NY
Amber Walker, DPT , Regis University
Background: The Catholic Medical Mission Board and the Peruvian Ministry of Health collaborated to carry out a baseline evaluation of the disabled population and their caregivers in the Bellavista Sector, District of La Esperanza, Trujillo, Peru. The results from the baseline evaluation were used to implement a community based rehabilitation program for children living with disabilities. 

Methods: CMMB Peru conducted interviews with 189 disabled persons, including 142 adults and 47 children.  The survey tool was developed based on the “National Health Interview Survey – Disabilities” from the USA.  Sections included in the survey included demography, home environment, transportation, social activities, work history, social services and medical technology available, functionality, support activities, other services, limitations, and opinions and actions of health.  The tool for children also included questions about education and the caregiver. The tool was pilot tested through 35 interviews and was modified accordingly.   

Results: In 42% of cases, there is only one caregiver.  36% of the caregivers had to stop working to take care of a child with a disability.  One-third of the caregivers report being frequently depressed.  72% of caregivers have no centers to drop off their children.  78% have support group that is available to them.  10% of the children do not attend school because children with special needs are not accepted. Three-quarters of the disabled children require constant attention. 

Conclusions: Caregivers must be a focus of services for the disabled population as they are critical to ensuring the health and safety of those living with disabilities.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify the requirements of being a caregiver for the disabled Formulate recommendations for disabled services that incorporate the needs of the caregiver

Keyword(s): Disabilities, International Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Country Director for Peru for CMMB for the past four years. I began, and have directly managed the Community Based Rehabilitation Program for the last three years. I was responsible for carrying out the community baseline evaluation in conjunction with the Peruvian Ministry of Health and local Universities. I have my MD and MPH and have practiced in public health for over 10 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.