Sobrecarga en cuidadores informales de personas con discapacidad pertenecientes al Proyecto Joaquín Gallegos Lara, Cuenca 2023-2024

This research addresses the burden of informal caregivers for dependent individuals, identifying risks to their physical and emotional health and their impact on the quality of life of both the caregiver and the assisted person. The overall objective is to explore the levels of caregiver burden among 61 caregivers of people with disabilities linked to the Joaquín Gallegos Lara Project in Cuenca during 2023-2024, along with their associated factors. A cross-sectional analytical descriptive study is employed, collecting data through a form that addresses sociodemographic variables, caregiving characteristics, and the Zarit Scale. Data tabulation and analysis were conducted using Epidat 4.2, employing frequencies and measures of central tendency. The results reveal that 11.48% of caregivers experienced intense burden; also, a significant association is identified between the caregiver's age (p-value = 0.04) and the degree of dependency (p-value = 0.03) with the burden. The sociodemographic analysis highlights a prevalence of women, mostly married caregivers aged between 40 and 60 years. Intensive caregiving is evident, with a considerable proportion of caregivers tending to individuals with dependence levels of 75-84%. This study emphasizes the need to address support strategies considering the experience, dedication, and diversity in the caregiving needs of the studied population.