The Impact of Stroke on the Quality of Life (QOL) of Stroke Survivors in the Southeast (SE) Communities of Nigeria: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the Quality of Life (QOL) amongst ten stroke survivors in the SE communities of Nigeria. Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized. Setting: Medical institutes in the southeast communities of Nigeria. Participants: 10 participants ranging in age from 29 to 72 years old. Stroke is typically a life-changing catastrophe, claiming over 55 million lives and disabling 44 million people each year. According to the research, stroke incidence has decreased by 42% in high-income nations worldwide but has increased by 100% in low-income areas such as Africa. Surviving a stroke can be a long-term process that impacts numerous elements of an individual’s life. Stroke-related QOL is a major health care issue in Nigeria that has received insufficient attention. The primary objective for survivors is to improve their QOL. Thus, it is critical to understand the true impact of stroke on the QOL of stroke survivors from their perspective. Individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 stroke survivors were conducted. An IPA approach shaped the interview process and the analysis of the data. Three main themes arose from the data: an ‘unfamiliar self’ which illuminated the altered body (unpredictable body), the ‘recovery of the embodied self’ (the transitional stage of recovery) and the ‘reconstruction of the embodied self, which reflected a continuous process of belonging and becoming. The impact of stroke on survivors’ QOL was twofold: negative and positive. The physical dimension had the largest detrimental impact on the survivors’ QOL, according to the findings. Spirituality, on the other hand, had the most positive impact on survivors’ QOL in Nigeria’s southeast communities.

Prevalence and Pattern of Stroke Cases Seen at the Neurology Clinic of Physiotherapy Department, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study .

“…The result of this study also revealed that majority of the stroke cases seen at the neurology clinic of physiotherapy department UPTH were male 208 (61.5%). This agrees with the findings of Adigwe et al, [7] and Oti et al, [20] . The reason for this could be due to the fact that men are usually more adventurous than females and are more likely to develop the risk factors of stroke such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking etc.…”

“…The case fatality in Africa averages about 35% but could be as low as 14.9% or as high as 77% when stroke is due to cerebral haemorrhage [5,6] . According to Adigwe et al, [7] , the prevalence of stroke in Nigeria is 1.14 per 1000 persons and a 30-day case fatality rate of 40%, and males more affected (males: female = 1.5:1). In Nigeria, stroke is a major cause of neurological admissions and its incidence has been on the increase due to rise in the incidence and prevalence of hypertension and diabetes [8,9] .…”

“…This view is, however, at variance with the position of Cordonnier et al, [21] who posited that hypertension and atrial fibrillation which are key risk factors for stroke are more frequent in women than in men. This difference can be due to the fact that the studies of Adigwe et al, [7] , Oti et al, [20] , and Cordonnier et al, [21] were carried out in different settings. While Adigwe et al, [7] and Oti et al, [20] conducted their studies in Nigeria which is in Africa, Cordonnier et al, [21] conducted theirs in Europe.…”

“…This difference can be due to the fact that the studies of Adigwe et al, [7] , Oti et al, [20] , and Cordonnier et al, [21] were carried out in different settings. While Adigwe et al, [7] and Oti et al, [20] conducted their studies in Nigeria which is in Africa, Cordonnier et al, [21] conducted theirs in Europe.…”