A Narrative Review of Challenges Faced by Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia in the Middle East and North Africa

Maha Al-Namla¹Anns Mahboob¹Eman Radwan¹Zena Sinan¹Abdulrahman Al-Namla¹Mohamud A. Verjee²Ali Chaari^1*

• ¹Weill Cornell Medicine- Qatar, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
• ²Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Informal caregivers of individuals with dementia in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region face a unique set of challenges shaped by cultural, religious, and structural factors.Understanding these challenges is crucial for informing effective supportive interventions.A narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science in January 2024. Thirty-two studies that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to synthesize findings related to caregiver burden across the MENA region.Key themes identified include financial strain, gendered burden, inadequate governmental support, limited dementia knowledge, and reliance on domestic workers. Cultural and religious Deleted: essent 34 Deleted: to 35 Deleted: meeting expectations were found to both motivate and complicate caregiving. Interventions such as caregiver education, formal policy support, and the integration of domestic workers were highlighted as potential avenues for relief.Informal caregivers in the MENA region face a multifaceted burden with limited structural support. Culturally sensitive interventions are necessary to alleviate the psychological, financial, and emotional strain experienced by these individuals, with a focus on education, policy reform, and the development of an inclusive caregiving infrastructure.