Quality of life among drug-resistant tuberculosis patients on treatment in SouthWest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to be a public health concern. Several factors, including the disease itself, affect the quality of life of DR-TB patients. This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL) and associated factors of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 165 participants using an interviewer-administered 26-item World Health Organization Quality of life Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) tool. Two questions assessed overall quality of life and general health while twenty-four questions assessed the physical, social, psychological and environmental domains of QOL. Continuous variables were summarized using means, standard deviations while association between categorical variables were analyzed using Chi-square test. Binary logistic regression model assessed the predictors of QOL with statistical significance at p<0.05 Results: Mean age was 35.63 ± 11.36. The overall quality of life was 3.96±0.82. The environmental domain had the highest mean quality of life (64.9±14.6), while the physical domain had the lowest (59.2±11.2). Marital status, family size, and support from the TB programme were associated with a good QOL. Conclusion: Overall quality of life was good. Continued financial and social support for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients on treatment by the national tuberculosis control programme is recommended. Keywords: Drug-resistant tuberculosis; quality of life; Nigeria.