Amputation Characteristics, Caregiver Support and Psychosocial Effect of Amputation among Adult Amputees at Tertiary Hospitals in Lagos Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

There is usually a strong worry with feelings over the lost individual or body parts. Amputation sometimes leads to feelings of social discomfort or public self-consciousness. Social discomfort has been linked with further psychosocial problems such as increased activity restriction, heightened worry and low mood. Studies have associated limb loss care with psychological burden, financial burden, bodily and emotional stress on family and social relationship. The purpose of this research was to determine the psychosocial effects of amputation.

METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 68 adult amputees using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale which assessed psychological effects (anxiety and depression) and social impact scale which measured social effect of amputation on amputees. Fisher's exact test was used in the analysis to establish association using SPSS software version 23.

RESULT: Disease was the major cause of amputation 54.4% and below knee amputation was the most common site (44.1%). Majority of the participants, (86.7%) had caregivers out of which family and relatives constituted 91.5% and those with co-morbid medical conditions were 48.5% with diabetes mellitus being most prevalent in 60.6% of amputees with co-morbid medical conditions.Participants who were >50 years were twelve times less likely to have anxiety compared to those who were ≤ 50 years. There was statistically significant association between age of participants and anxiety. (OR = 0.081, p = 0.013, CI = 0.011- 0.594).

CONCLUSION

Majority of the participants had caregivers, out of which, family and relatives constituted significant proportion. About half of the participants had co-morbid medical conditions. Age was significantly associated with anxiety. This study revealed that having a care giver reduced depression, anxiety and social effect among amputees.