Perceived Stress and Depression Among Caretakers of Children Living with Cancer in Meru Central, Eastern Province, Kenya

Abstract This study was aimed at assessing the relationship between perceived stress and depressiCDn among caretakers of children living with cancer with the following objectives; First, to assess the caretakers perceived stress~ Secondly, to assess the level of depression among caretakers of children living with cancer and Thirdly, to establish the effect of perceived stress on depression among caretakers of children living with cancer. The study took both quantitative and qualitative approaches with interview and questionnaires as the research tools. The results indicate that there is no significant difference between the perceived stress and depression of caretakers of children living with cancer and those taking care of children with other illness. The results also show that regression stress lead to depressive symptoms. Respondents selected were both males and females selected randomly with various ages ranging from 18 to 50 and over. The study comes out with recommendations that hospitals should extend their services nearer so as all people get services offered. Also hospitals should provide such facilities as music in hospital rooms to reduce the tension, depression and stress that caretakers face.