ISSN 2360-7920
ABSTRACT: This study assessed the level of quality of life of obstetric fistula patients and appraised the influence of social support and quality of life of obstetric fistula patients. It also, examined the influence of health locus of control on quality of life of fistula patients and assessed the influence of fistula types on quality of life of fistula patients in Nigeria. These were with the view to determining factors that influence the quality of life of obstetric fistula patients in Nigeria. Primary data were used in the study. The data were collected from fistula patients in Nigeria. A sample size of one hundred and sixty-four participants were selected through purposive sampling technique being a definite population. Three standardized scales were used for data collection. These are; Multidimension Perceived Social Support Scale (MPSSS), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLCS) and World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Data collected were subjected to percentile, Pearson Moment Correlation, multiple regression and independent sample-test. The results of the analysis revealed that majority (75%) of the fistula patients reported average quality of life. It also showed that there was statistically significant positive relationship between social support and quality of life of fistula patients in Nigeria (r = 0.47, p<0.05). It further showed that heath locus of control significantly predicted quality of life of fistula patients F(4,149) = 18.061, p < 0.05. Furthermore, the results revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean score of the vesico-vaginal fistula (x̄ =49.39, SD = 8,30) with those of recto-vaginal fistula (x̄ = 50.95, SD = 7.59) patients in terms of their quality of life (t = -1.123, p˃0.05). The study concluded that social support and health locus of control were factors that influenced the quality of life of fistula patients in Nigeria.
Keywords: Fistula, Health Locus of Control, Quality of life and Social Support