title: Edentulism and quality of life among older Ghanaian adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Edentulism affects the quality of life and general health of an individual. But in ageing individuals, it has been observed to have greater impact, manifesting in functional, psychological and social limitations. With an increasing older adult population in Ghana, its burden is likely to increase. This study was thus carried out to explore the association between edentulism and quality of life among older Ghanaian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of WHO's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 in Ghana was conducted using self-reported edentulism as the dependent variable. Participants included a nationally representative sample of adult's aged 50 years and older living in Ghana. Quality of life was measured using the 8 item WHOQOL measure and a single item measure which was a question "How would you rate your overall quality of life?". To assess the association between edentulism and the independent variables, a bivariate analysis was carried out. A Poisson regression model was then performed, adjusting for age, sex, income, education and the diagnosis of a chronic disease condition. A Spearman's correlation analysis was also carried out between the single and multi item measure of quality of life to assess how well they correlate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Edentulism was observed to be associated with significantly lower levels of SWB among older adults using both the single-item and multiple-item measure (WHOQOL). It, however, showed no association with happiness. Among edentulous respondents, females and those with no formal education reported significantly lower quality of life. The WHOQOL correlated positively and strongly with the single-item measure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Edentulism may not be life threatening and yet it has been shown to have a negative effect on the quality of life of older adult Ghanaians. More emphasis may thus need to be placed on the oral health of the aging population in Ghana to avoid it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, P. O. Box KB 460, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. sandrahewlett@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Sandra A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hewlett
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. aeyawson@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alfred E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Yawson
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. calys75@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Benedict N L
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Calys-Tagoe
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Multi-Country Studies unit, Geneva, Switzerland. naidoon@who.int.
authors.forename: Nirmala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. pmmartey@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martey
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Multi-Country Studies unit, Geneva, Switzerland. chatterjis@who.int.
authors.forename: Somnath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterji
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Multi-Country Studies unit, Geneva, Switzerland. paul.r.kowal@gmail.com.|University of Newcastle Research Centre on Gender, Health and Ageing, Newcastle, Australia. paul.r.kowal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. gpmensah@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mensah
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. nadia.minicuci@unipd.it.|National Council Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Padova, Italy. nadia.minicuci@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minicuci
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. biritwum@africaonline.com.gh.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Biritwum
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D012424:Rural Population; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population