Factors Associated with Health-related Quality of Life among Post-paralytic Polio Survivors in Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess Quality of Life (QOL), and examine its association with occupation and level of education among polio survivors. The study was a cross-sectional survey of polio survivors (N = 54) registered with the Post Paralytic Polio Survivors Association, living in Gusau, North Western Nigeria. The World Health Organization (WHO) QOL BREF 26 Items English version was used to assess QOL, while a biodata form was used to assess demographic variables. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, Wilcoxon rank test and Kruskal-Wallis test. The level of significance was set at 0.05. The mean age of the participants was 22.4 ± 5.4 years and mean QOL scores were 45.2 ± 9.7, 54.8 ± 11.4, 41.3 ± 10.9 and 44.4 ± 12.1 in physical, psychological, social relationship and environmental domains, respectively. The participants’ overall perception of their QOL and health averaged 3.3 ± 0.8 and 3.6 ± 0.7, respectively. No significant association was observed between all the domains. Occupation status (P > 0.05) and educational level had no significant relationship with all the domains (P > 0.05). The findings of this study suggest that the QOL of polio survivors is not associated with their occupational status and level of education. It was suggested that follow-up research should try to clarify whether improving occupational and education status raises the QOL of polio survivors.

Keywords: Polio, quality of life, survivors