Quality of life among leprosy patients: An analysis of associated factors

Leprosy is accompanied by stigma and discrimination that significantly impact patients' quality of life. Previous studies in Ethiopia have focused primarily on demographic and disease-related aspects, neglecting mental health factors. Therefore, was aimed to assess quality of life and associated factors among leprosy patients in Eastern Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 leprosy patients at Bisidimo General Hospital using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using STATA version 17, with multiple linear regression identifying associations between variables. Mean domain scores were: physical 53.03 ± 16.44, psychological 51.37 ± 13.10, social 44.95 ± 18.34, and environmental 57.10 ± 15.28. Depression, anxiety, comorbidity, stigma, and illness duration showed significant negative associations with quality of life domains. Income demonstrated positive associations across all domains. Additionally, poor social support negatively impacted the physical domain, while lifetime khat use negatively affected the social domain. Leprosy patients exhibited lower scores in social and psychological domains but higher scores in the environmental domain. Most factors affecting quality of life are preventable, suggesting the importance of programs that increase awareness, facilitate early treatment, and implement routine screening for mental health alongside physical health to improve patients' quality of life.