Selected socio-demographic variables and their effect on the quality of life of elderly individuals in a Southeast community of Nigeria.

Abstract

Background : The aim of this study was to determine the effect of some socio demographic variables on the quality of life of elderly individuals aged 60 to 75years in Nnewi North Local Government area of Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria.
Method: A total of 169 subjects which included 80 females and 89 males who were elderly individuals participated in this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to measure quality of life (QOL).QOL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal Wallis Test and Mann Whitney test at 0.05 alpha level of Significance.
Result : Seventy one percent (71.0%) were married, thirteen percent (13.0%) had Post-graduate education, twenty nine percent (29.0%) had Primary education and only twenty four percent (24%) earned monthly income of more than 30,000 Naira and above. Among the selected social demographic variables, Level of Education and income had significant difference (p-value=0.000) in all domains of WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD.
Conclusion: High educational level and income had significant effect on the Physical, Psychological ,Social and Enviromental Health Domains of WHOQOL-BREF as well as QOL in WHO-OLD. However Gender and Marital status had no significant effect on all WHOQOL BREF and OLD Domains. Age had significant effect on Psychological health but no significant effect on other domains of WHOQOL-BREF and OLD.

Keywords: Quality of life, elderly, Socioeconomic, WHObref, WHOold