Health-Related Quality of Life of People with Disabilities in Liberia

Health Promotion

Background: The lack of tailored opportunities and resources to improve the livelihood of people living with disabilities is appalling. These grave conditions faced by people with disabilities hereby threaten the mental health and well-being of people living with disabilities. Objective: This research aimed to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people living with disabilities (PLWD) in Liberia. Method: This study was conducted among 97 PLWD in Montserrado County Liberia from January to June 2024. All participants were evaluated using questionnaires: the short version of the WHO quality of life scale and the attitude toward disability. self-designed questionnaire was used to ascertain participant’s socio-demographic information. Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.57 years (range 22 to 76 years old). 53.6% was male while 46.4% was female. 46.4% of the participants were physically disabled, 22.7% visually impaired, 18.6% deaf and dumb, and 12.4% with cognitive disability. Participant’s overall quality of life was measured using the first two items (i.e. 1. How would you rate your quality of life? And how satisfied are you with your health?). The mean scores of these two items were 1.63 and 1.44 respectively. Correlation analysis found a significant association between inclusion as a domain of attitude toward disability and the four domains of HRQoL at p < 0.05. Conclusion: The finding of the study suggests that the overall HRQoL of PLWD in Liberia was rated between very poor and poor. The findings about an individual’s attitudes toward their disability showed better inclusion and less discrimination among PLWD.

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