Environmental health quality of life of the aged with disability in selected districts in the Upper West region of Ghana

Abstract

A substantial proportion of the aged population will have to face frailty and dependency. As a result, environmental health care for the aged with disability has become a public health concern. Therefore, the study examined the environmental Health Quality of Life (QOL) of the aged with disability in selected districts in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study employed a census survey and questionnaires to collect data from 810 aged with disability. Independent-samples t-test and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical tools were used. The analysis revealed a significant difference [F (807) = 22.318 value, p = 0.000] in environmental health QOL across age of the respondents, such that those aged 60-69 years had the highest mean score and those 80 years and older with lowest mean score. Further, mean scores were higher for those with physical disability than those with visual disability with a significant difference [t (808) = 4.085, p = 0.000] in environmental health QOL between type of disability. The study revealed the important role played by the background characteristics of the aged with disability in influencing their environmental health QOL. The study recommends that family members and governmental agencies continue to assist in the provision of environmental needs of the aged with disability.