Quality of life experienced by South Sudanese lower limb prosthetic users after rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Prosthetic rehabilitation modifies functional limitations and psychological challenges caused by amputations, as it helps to restore mobility and body image. A physical rehabilitation centre in Juba, South Sudan, has been providing prosthetic rehabilitation since 2009 in this conflict torn part of the world.

Objectives: To determine the quality of life (QoL) of persons with unilateral transfemoral or transtibial amputations who have received prosthetic rehabilitation in Juba, South Sudan.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 40 participants, identified through consecutive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF)questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted, and relationships between QoL and participants’ demographic and medical information were explored through the t-test and analysis of variance (normally distributed data) and the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallace tests (skewed data).

Results: Mean domain scores were physical (74.28%), psychological (72.59%), social (71.40%) and environmental (58.81%). Overall QoL and overall health satisfaction had mean scores of 4.1/5 and 3.975/5. Marital status (0.049) and occupation (0.022) played a significant role in psychological QoL. No other demographic or medical variable had a significant effect on overall or domain QoL scores. Women were significantly more satisfied with their health than men (0.046).

Conclusion: Overall, participants had high QoL scores. This might be because of prosthetic rehabilitation. Lower scores in the environmental domain might be because of poverty and the continuous danger of armed conflict.

Contribution: Even when using basic components, prosthetic rehabilitation can significantly improve QoL after lower limb amputation.