Acceptance of illness and satisfaction with life among malaria patients in rivers state, Nigeria.

Katarzyna Van Damme-Ostapowicz,Paul Jc Nwosu,Marek Sobolewski,Wojciech Kułak,Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak,Romuald Olszański

doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-202

Katarzyna Van Damme-Ostapowicz, Paul Jc Nwosu + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-202

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Abstract

BackgroundHealth condition is one of the basic factors affecting satisfaction with life, and the level of illness acceptance. The purpose of the study was to analyse the level of illness acceptance, the level of satisfaction with life among malaria patients, and the level of trust placed in the physician and the nurse.MethodsThe study employs the method of diagnostic survey based on standardised AIS and SWLS scales, as well as Anderson and Dedrick’s PPTS and PNTS scales.ResultsThe average AIS level was 12 points, while the average level of SwL at the SWLS scale was 16.5 points. The average level of trust in the physician and the nurse amounted to 50.6 points and 51.4 points, respectively. The correlation between the level of illness acceptance and self-evaluated satisfaction with life was statistically significant, with R = 0.56. The marital status influenced the level of illness acceptance with p < 0.05 and the level of satisfaction with life with p < 0.05. The employment status affected the level of satisfaction with life with p < 0.05 and the level of illness acceptance with p < 0.05.ConclusionsThe majority of malaria patients did not accept their illness, while the level of satisfaction with life was low. The majority of respondents trusted their physician and nurse. There is a statistically significant correlation between the level of illness acceptance and the self-evaluated satisfaction with life. The marital status had a statistically significant effect on the acceptance of illness and the satisfaction with life. The individuals who had a job demonstrated higher levels of quality of life and illness acceptance.

Highlights

Health condition is one of the basic factors affecting satisfaction with life, and the level of illness acceptance
Our study involved patients chosen at random, who came to the General Outpatient Department and who were diagnosed with malaria
Marital status has an impact on the level of acceptance of the disease and single persons are characterised by a higher level of acceptance of the disease

Summary

Introduction

Health condition is one of the basic factors affecting satisfaction with life, and the level of illness acceptance. In 2010, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 106 endemic countries and territories in the world. An estimated 81% of these cases and 91% of deaths occurred in the WHO African Region [1]. Malaria is commonly considered to be a poverty-associated disease [2] and has been a major public health issue in many sub-Saharan African countries [3,4,5]. The disease has been a major public health issue in Nigeria, a country with an estimated 170 million people [4,6]. The transmission of malaria occurs throughout the year with the intensity higher in the southern parts of the country because of the longer rainy season that favours the breeding of mosquitoes [4]. The WHO report states that for the 162 000 000 Nigerian residents “high transmission (≥1 case per 1000 of population)” is 100% [7]

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