Caregivers Need Help Too: The Lived Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of the Caregivers of the Dengue Patients in Palawan, Philippines

Abstract

Dengue is a fast-spreading disease characterized by a severe flu-like illness that can cause severe complications that can lead to death. While dengue patients are at the frontline in battling with the disease, their caregivers are the ones experiencing the challenge of ensuring the patients’ recovery. Extant literature related to dengue focuses on the condition of the patients, their mental and emotional status, and the effects of the said disease. Previous studies about the dengue patients’ caregivers are minimal. This qualitative phenomenological study aims to better understand the experiences of the informal caregivers (parents/guardians) of dengue patients. It describes the lived experiences and coping mechanisms of seven selected caregivers of dengue patients in Quezon, Palawan, Philippines, where there was a dengue outbreak in 2019. Three major themes were generated: challenges, care practices, and coping strategies. The challenges were financial difficulty, lack of knowledge about dengue, fulfilling too many roles, patients’ behavior, physical and psychological health, and strained relationship with spouse. Care practices included personal care, herbal medicine, and caregiving strategies learned. Coping strategies were categorized as positive and negative. The caregivers demonstrated resilience in facing the challenges associated with taking care of dengue patients but data reveal that they needed assistance, too.