New Findings from University of Botswana Yields New Data on Quality of Life (Sociodemographic Factors and Health-Related Characteristics That…

New Findings from University of Botswana Yields New Data on Quality of Life (Sociodemographic Factors and Health-Related Characteristics That Influence the Quality of Life of Grandparent Caregivers in Zimbabwe)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- Investigators publish new report on Quality of Life. According to news reporting from Gaborone, Botswana, by NewsRx editors, the research stated, "Very few studies have examined quality of life (QOL) in elderly carers of orphaned children in African settings. This study explored sociodemographic factors and health-related characteristics that influence QOL of grandparent carers in Zimbabwe."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Botswana, "A cross-sectional study stratified by district was done to collect information on socioeconomic factors, health-related characteristics, and QOL of grandparent carers (=327; age:=62.4,=11.2). Data were collected on socioeconomic factors, self-perceived health, health care access, chronic disease condition, health insurance status, types of health care services, and medications taken using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the associations between QOL and the predictor variables. Caregivers' level of education (odds ratio [OR]=3.0; confidence interval [95% CI]=[1.0, 27]), fostering orphans only (OR=0.4; 95% CI=[0.2, 0.7]), self-perceived health (OR=10.2; 95% CI=[4.5, 25]), medical insurance (OR=9.8; 95% CI=[1.9, 54]), and satisfaction with health care services (OR=2.2; 95% CI=[1.2, 4.4]) were associated with QOL, after adjusting for all influencing factors. The results confirm that QOL is compromised by specific demographic and self-rated health characteristics."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Thus, eradicating poverty and providing services and changing caregiver's perceptions about self-rated health may enhance QOL among grandparent caregivers."

For more information on this research see: Sociodemographic Factors and Health-Related Characteristics That Influence the Quality of Life of Grandparent Caregivers in Zimbabwe. Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, 2018;4():2333721418756995 (see also Quality of Life).

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M. Mhaka-Mutepfa, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721418756995. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Keywords for this news article include: Africa, Gaborone, Botswana, Quality of Life, Health and Medicine.

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