Quality of Life, Disablement, Comorbidity and Socio- Demographics of Stroke Survivors in South-Western Nigeria Akinpelu Aderonke O.1, Gbiri Caleb A.2, Maruf Fatai A.3 1Senior lecturer, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2Lecturer, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 3Lecturer, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Correspondence Address: C.A. Gbiri, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria. calebgbiri@yahoo.com +2348185434054
Online published on 31 October, 2012. Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the QOL of SSV in South-western Nigeria and identify factors influencing it. Methods Seventy five SSV attending physiotherapy out-patient clinics of all tertiary health institutions in South-western Nigeria between April and July 2004 were recruited consecutively into this survey. Socio-demographic data, duration of stroke, side affected, and co-morbidity were obtained. QOL and motor performance were measured using the WHOQOL-BREF and Modified Motor Assessment Scale respectively. Data were analysed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests at 0.05. Results The SSV (45 males and 30 females) were aged 58.8±11.9 years and 14 of them had comorbidities. Their mean QOL scores varied between 45% and 53% in all domains except the environment domain where it was 28%. Male SSV with co-morbidity scored significantly lower than those without co-morbidity in the physical health and psychological health domains of QOL. Sociodemographic variables, duration of stroke, motor performance and sides affected had no significant effect on any of the domains of QOL. Conclusion Our data suggest that co-morbidity reduces QOL in physical health and psychological health domains of male SSV in South-Western Nigeria. Top |