Relationship Between Caregivers' Quality of Life and Childhood Tuberculosis in Nigeria

Relationship Between Caregivers’ Quality of Life and Childhood Tuberculosis in Nigeria by Haruna Ismaila Adamu MPH, Cardiff University, 1999 MBBS, Ahmadu Bello University, 1991 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University November 2017 Abstract In Nigeria, childhood tuberculosis (TB), a debilitating and deadly disease, is highly prevalent and case reporting is poor due to weak health systems. Globally, children account for at least 10 percent of the TB burden, yet they remain neglected in TB prevention and control efforts. Research studies integrating family and communitycentered strategies have been recommended by stakeholders to address the paucity of current local prevention and management strategies for childhood TB. This observational cross-sectional study explored the relationship between caregivers’ quality of life (QOL), gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of TB in children aged 0-14 years. Using the abbreviated version of World Health Organization’s (WHO) QOL tool, the WHOQOL-BREF, data were collected individually in a face-to-face setting from caregivers (n = 47) whose children had been diagnosed with TB in Bauchi State, Northeastern Nigeria, over a 5-year period. Data were collected in the same manner from another set of caregivers of children without TB (n = 47) within the same period and setting. Results from logistic regression indicated a statistically significant relationship (p < .001) between the caregivers’ QOL and the occurrence childhood TB. However, the caregivers’ gender and SES were not significantly related to the incidence of childhood TB. This finding underscores the need to identify the factors that positively impact the QOL of caregivers of childhood TB cases. It also reflects the importance of integrating QOL interventions as part of TB control programs seeking to improve childhood TB reporting. This can mitigate the disease burden in vulnerable age-groups living in resource limited settings, thereby contributing to positive social change in the society.In Nigeria, childhood tuberculosis (TB), a debilitating and deadly disease, is highly prevalent and case reporting is poor due to weak health systems. Globally, children account for at least 10 percent of the TB burden, yet they remain neglected in TB prevention and control efforts. Research studies integrating family and communitycentered strategies have been recommended by stakeholders to address the paucity of current local prevention and management strategies for childhood TB. This observational cross-sectional study explored the relationship between caregivers’ quality of life (QOL), gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of TB in children aged 0-14 years. Using the abbreviated version of World Health Organization’s (WHO) QOL tool, the WHOQOL-BREF, data were collected individually in a face-to-face setting from caregivers (n = 47) whose children had been diagnosed with TB in Bauchi State, Northeastern Nigeria, over a 5-year period. Data were collected in the same manner from another set of caregivers of children without TB (n = 47) within the same period and setting. Results from logistic regression indicated a statistically significant relationship (p < .001) between the caregivers’ QOL and the occurrence childhood TB. However, the caregivers’ gender and SES were not significantly related to the incidence of childhood TB. This finding underscores the need to identify the factors that positively impact the QOL of caregivers of childhood TB cases. It also reflects the importance of integrating QOL interventions as part of TB control programs seeking to improve childhood TB reporting. This can mitigate the disease burden in vulnerable age-groups living in resource limited settings, thereby contributing to positive social change in the society. Relationship Between Caregivers’ Quality of Life and Childhood Tuberculosis in Nigeria by Haruna Ismaila Adamu MPH, Cardiff University, 1999 MBBS, Ahmadu Bello University, 1991 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University November 2017 Dedication To my late father, Alhaji Adamu Ismaila Kofar Naisa of blessed memory. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, amen. Acknowledgments I thank Almighty Allah for making it possible for me to complete this doctoral process successfully. I remain grateful to my family: Jamila, Hadiza, Ahmad, Muhammad, Mahmoud, Hamidan, Adam, Ismail, Mustapha and Aisha for the unflinching love and support they gave me throughout the period of the course. I could not have succeeded without them being there for me all the time. I thank my parents, late Alhaji Adamu Ismaila Kofar Naisa and Hajiya Aishatu Ahmad Adamu for their love, prayers, and steadfastness in ensuring that their children get educated; I remain indebted to them forever. My appreciation also goes to my supervisors and colleagues at the World Health Organization for their support and understanding throughout the entire process in spite of competing demands of our work as the main technical partner to the ministry of health in TB prevention and control. Lastly, but certainly not the least, my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation goes to the able members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Tolulope Osoba, Dr. Cornelia White Dr. Stephen Nkansah-Amankra, Dr. John Nemecek, and Dr. Eric Oestmann for their support, guidance, dedication, and commitment towards ensuring that I succeed in my journey to become a scholar-practitioner at doctoral level. You will forever be remembered in my life.