Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of Caregivers of People with Disabilities Served at APAE Belém

Abstract

The study analyzed the sociodemographic and clinical profile of 60 caregivers of people with disabilities served at APAE Belém. Predominantly women (83.3%), aged between 35 and 50 years, most were primary caregivers (78.3%), self-declared as mixed-race (63.3%), residents of Belém/PA (63.3%), and with a monthly income of up to R$ 2,900 (90%). Many received the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) (73.9%). The individuals they cared for were mostly aged 10 to 15 years, with diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder (21.7%) and Down syndrome (13.3%). About 23.3% of the caregivers had sought psychological or psychiatric help, mainly due to sadness (21.4%), depression (14.3%), and anxiety (14.3%), with 60% still under professional care. The results highlight the importance of specific interventions to reduce caregiver burden and improve their quality of life, considering their sociodemographic and clinical vulnerabilities.