Quality of life and its predictors among aging people in urban and rural Nepal.

Abstract

We studied the quality of life (QoL) of the elderly in Nepal and their special needs. Nepal is a low- and middle-income country where the elderly population is growing significantly. A random selection of informants from the Kavre district was carried out in this cross-sectional, population-based, door-to-door survey. The district has a mixture of urban and rural communities. In Nepal, families generally take care of their elderly. Hardly any placement is made in institutions. A validated Nepali version of World Health Organization Quality of Life 8-question scale (WHOQoL-8) estimated QoL among the elderly (≥ 60years; N = 439). Other variables of interest were socio-demographics, substance use, physical and psychological health, and family support. Depression was measured by Geriatric Depression Scale short form [GDS-15]. Due to a high illiteracy rate, a structured and culturally adapted questionnaire was presented in an interview format. The relationships between the variables and QoL were analyzed using independent sample t tests, linear regression and Pearson's correlations. The mean QoL score was 25.7 (± 4.2); 49.2% rated their QoL as good. Positive predictors of QoL were: urban residence (p = 0.03); employment (p = 0.02); absence of chronic physical health problems (p = 0.02); absence of depression (p < 0.001); adequate time given by family (p = 0.001), and reports of non-abusive family relationships (p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between geriatric depression and the QoL score (r = - 0.697; p < 0.001). QoL of the elderly in Nepal may potentially improve by care directed towards their physical and psychological health, by strengthening family relations, and by financial independence.