International Journal of Medicine and Public Health,2017,7,3,142-146.DOI:10.5530/ijmedph.2017.3.29Published:Aug 2017Type:Original ArticleMorbidity Profile and Quality of Life (QOL) of the Beneficiaries of Asraya Project: A Study from KeralaSreelakshmi Pallipurathu Raghunathan Nair, Anish Thekkumkara Surendran Nair, Sara Varaghese, Vijayakumar Krishnapillai, Achu Thomas, and Alice Metilda Mendez Sreelakshmi Pallipurathu Raghunathan Nair1, Anish Thekkumkara Surendran Nair2, Sara Varaghese2, Vijayakumar Krishnapillai3, Achu Thomas4, Alice Metilda Mendez5 1Department of Community Medicine, Sree Uthradam Thirunal Academy of Medical Sciences, Vattapara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA. 2Department of Community Medicine, Govt Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA. 3Department of Community Medicine, SMCSI Medical College, Karakonam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA. 4Resident Medical Officer, Govt Thaluk hospital, Kanjirapally, Kottayam, Kerala, INDIA. 5Department of Community Medicine, KMCT Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, INDIA. Abstract:Introduction: The State Poverty Eradication Mission of Government of Kerala- ‘Kudumbasree’ launched an innovative programme named Asraya for the destitute individuals. The health conditions and level of living seldom studied among these marginalized individuals. This study aims to assess the morbidity profile and Quality of Life (QOL) of the beneficiaries of the destitute rehabilitation project (Asraya) in Thiruvananthapuram district , Kerala. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted among 150 beneficiaries of the destitute rehabilitation project in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. Sampling technique used was cluster sampling - Probability Proportionate to Size. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the baseline information and WHO QOL BREF was used to assess the quality of life.Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Results: Chronic non-communicable diseases topped the list in their morbidity profile. In general, the Quality of Life of these individuals was poor with a mean score of 30 (22.6). Domain wise analysis produced a score of above 40 in two domains namely physical and environmental. Younger age, access to nutrition, free from diseases and supervision by the authorities were important predictors of QoL. Conclusion: This group of individuals suffered from a multitude of diseases. QoL of the destitute was poor in general, with variations with respect to domains. The quality in the physical domain was relatively better than that in psychological domain. Keywords:Asraya project, Health of the Destitute, Marginalized section, Poverty and health, Quality of Life, Standard of livingView:PDF (153.74 KB)