COIOS
Behavioural science Item confirms preprint

Sub-Saharan African family carers report physical, emotional and financial burden

A scoping review of 15 studies found that family caregivers of older adults with chronic life-limiting illnesses in Sub-Saharan Africa reported physical exhaustion, emotional distress, financial hardship and social isolation, alongside minimal formal health system support.

This scoping review synthesised 15 empirical studies from multiple Sub-Saharan African countries published between 2011 and 2025, examining the experiences of informal family caregivers of older adults with chronic life-limiting illnesses. Caregivers reported multidimensional burden—physical exhaustion, emotional distress, financial hardship and social isolation—alongside coping through cultural obligation and family responsibility, set against health systems offering minimal formal support.

Why it is interesting: Directly addresses how long-term care for older people is financed and provided in Sub-Saharan Africa, where population ageing is accelerating but formal care infrastructure remains absent.

Source
Research Square, 2026-09-10
DOI
10.21203/rs.3.rs-10977533/v1
Type
Preprint
Design
Scoping review of 15 studies, 2011–2025, from multiple Sub-Saharan African countries
Verdict
Confirms prior evidence
Driver
How societies are paying for and providing care for older people