Informal Caregiver Burden in Southeast Asia’s Chronic Disease Transition: A Scoping Review to Inform ASEAN’s Care Economy Agenda
Abstract
Objective: This scoping review systematically mapped evidence on informal caregiver burden across chronic diseases in Southeast Asia’s eleven Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries between 2013 and 2023, examining geographic distribution, burden dimensions, determinants, and policy implications.
Material and Method: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for peer-reviewed studies on burden among the informal caregivers of patients with chronic diseases in ASEAN countries. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and conducted quality appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data were synthesized narratively, guided by Pearlin’s Stress Process Model and mapped to ASEAN’s 2024 Care Economy Declaration pillars.
Results: Fourteen studies from five countries were identified: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Six ASEAN members (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Brunei, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste) had no published research. Five burden domains appeared consistently: financial strain, caregiving workload, limited social support, emotional distress, and physical health decline. Determinants included care recipient factors, caregiver factors, family context, and structural factors. Burden was associated with caregiver anxiety (25.0–68.0%) and depression (10.0–56.0%).
Conclusion: Evidence concentration in upper-middle-income countries reveals critical research gaps. Supporting informal caregivers through integrated primary care interventions, social protection expansion, and research capacity building in underrepresented countries is foundational to achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 and advancing health equity in Southeast Asia.
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