Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Very few studies have examined quality of life (QOL) in elderly carers of orphaned children in African settings. Poor QOL was found to cause distress among different groups of carers which could lead to poor physical and mental health. Elderly carers circumstances and environment determine their quality of life. This study explored socio-demographic factors and health-related characteristics that influence QOL of grandparent carers in Zimbabwe. A cross-sectional study stratified by district was done to collect information on socio-economic factors, health-related characteristics, and QOL of grandparent carers (N=327; Mean age=62.4; SD=11.2 ). Data were collected on socio-economic factors, self-perceived health, health care access, chronic disease condition, health insurance status, types of health care services, and medications taken. Data on QOL was collected using WHOQOL-BREF. Bivariate and multivariate analysis (logistic regression) were used to investigate the associations between QOL and the predictor variables. Caregivers’ level of education (OR= 3.0; CI=1.0-27), fostering orphans only (OR=0.4; CI=0.2-0.7), self-perceived health (OR=10.2; CI=4.5-25), medical insurance (OR=9.8; CI=1.9-54), and satisfaction with health care services (OR=2.2; CI=1.2-4.4) were associated with QOL, after adjusting for all influencing factors (socio-demographic and self-rated health characteristics) (Model III). The associations were strong for all variables above and were weak for chronic disease conditions and marital status. Being aged seventy-one plus (0.3 times), high education, being widowed, living in urban low-density suburb (3.3 times), and fostering orphans only were associated with QOL in crude model 1. The results confirm that QOL is compromised by specific demographics and self-rated health characteristics, particularly in the domains of environmental health and perceptions of self-rated health. Thus, eradicating poverty and providing services (health and social) and changing caregiver’s perceptions about self-rated health may enhance QOL among grandparent caregivers.