Quality of life perceptions of middle-aged women living with a disability in Muang district, Khon Kaen, Thailand: WHOQOL perspective.
OBJECTIVE
Measure the quality of life of middle-aged women with a disability and examine the association of their quality of life and socio-demographic factors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was applied Thirty-two women with disabilities aged 40-60 years were selected by using stratified random sampling. The WHOQOL-BREF-THAI, Modified Barthel ADL Index (BAI), Chula ADL Index (CAI), and Estrogen hormone deficit syndrome questionnaires were applied Data were analyzed by using descriptive analysis and Spearman's correlation.


RESULTS
The level of their overall quality of life, when measuring all dimensions of WHOQOL, was moderate. Overall, QOL perceptions correlated positively and significantly with BAI (r(s) = 0.4848, p = 0.0048), CAI (r(s) = 0.5963, p = 0.0005), and their income balance (r = 0.4124, p = 0.0150), while other factors such as marital status, educational level, occupation, duration of disability, disability level, health problem, and estrogen hormone deficit syndrome were not statistically significant correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study results revealed that independency and financial sufficiency are significant factors on quality of life of disabled middle-age women. Promoting independency and financial status may be crucial for enhancing their quality of life.
Rukwong
Pensri
P
Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Chirawatkul
Siriporn
S
Markovic
Milica
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand