Factors Associated with Quality of Life of Leprosy Disabled People in a Leprosarium, Northeastern Region, Thailand.

Abstract

A cross - sectional analytical study aimed to evaluate the quality of life: QOL and  determine the factors associated with QOL of the leprosy disabled people living in a Leprosarium, Northeastern Region, Thailand.118 volunteers were recruited by systemic sampling technique from the leprosy disabled people living in leprosarium. Data had been collected during June 2017by face to face interviewing using the WHOQOL-BREF-THAI 26 standard tool, and questionnaire developed by the investigator.

  The results shown that, QOL of the leprosy disabled people in leprosarium mostly(63.56%) classified in  good level, 35.59%in moderate level, only one person (0.85%)was classified aslow level. Factors found associated statistically significant with QOL were Social Support (OR_adj. =11.90, 95% CI=1.0-142.21,P=0.03)and Family Supported(OR_adj.=4.40, 95% CI=1.82-10.67,P<0.01).

This is a first report to indicate the transition of QOL of the leprosy disabled people living in the Leprosarium in Thailand , from the level of low–middlein the past to the level of middle – good in present.

               Suggestion  to  improving  the  level of QOL for the  leprosy disable people in  the  Leprosarium. All  Public Welfare registration  schemes,e.g.  registration of  the poor , registration for elderly  subsistence allowance .   Registration for  disability  allowance etc, should be made accessible to all.