Family quality of life and associated factors among people with leprosy or podoconiosis/lymphatic filariasis with visible disabilities and their family members in Ethiopia: a baseline study for a randomized controlled trial

Leprosy, podoconiosis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) cause impairment and disability affecting family quality of life (FQoL). The purpose of this study was to assess and compare FQoL and associated factors in people in Ethiopia with disabilities caused by leprosy, FL or podoconiosis and their family members. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the East and West Gojjam Zones of Ethiopia. Study participants with visible disabilities were selected by simple random sampling; however, family members were selected purposively. Data were collected using the FQoL, SARI, PHQ-9 and Participation Scale. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used to analyse the data. These findings are based on baseline data collected before the intervention phase of a randomized controlled trial. A total of 416 people with disabilities and 416 family members participated in the study. The overall mean FQoL score for both groups was 75.4. Among people with disabilities, FQoL was significantly associated with increasing age (β=0.045, p<0.001), disease type (leprosy, β=0.561, p<0.029), stigma (β=-0.274, p<0.001) and participation restriction (β=-0.740, p<0.001). For family members, disease type (leprosy, β=3.910, p<0.001), student or unpaid work (β=3.640, p<0.001), marital status (single, β=1.803, p<0.033) and residence (rural, β=3.160, p<0.002) showed a significant association with FQoL. To improve FQoL, a targeted family-based care package should address challenges related to age, disease type, stigma and participation restrictions of people with disabilities as well as the sociodemographic factors affecting their family members.