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May 28, 2026Keywords:
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Assessment of quality of life among selected lower limb amputees in South-Eastern Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Lower limb amputation in low-income countries such as Nigeria imposes significant economic, social, and psychological burdens. Mobility — and thus quality of life (QoL) — is shaped by prosthetic design, rehabilitation, and psychosocial adaptation.
Objective: To assess the quality of life among adult lower limb amputees in Southeastern Nigeria who had used prostheses for at least six months, and to examine the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and prosthetic componentry on rehabilitation outcomes.
Methods: A crosssectional survey of 47 amputees using prostheses for ≥6 months was conducted in two private institutions in Enugu and Imo States. Data were collected with a researcher-designed proforma and the TAPES-R questionnaire, covering psychosocial adjustment, activity restriction, and prosthetic satisfaction. Analyses employed Spearman’s correlation and Mann -Whitney U tests.
Results: Participants’ mean age was 50.6 years; trans -tibial amputation predominated (68.1%). Most used SACH feet and PTB sockets. Psychosocial adjustment was high for general (M=21.15) and social (M=21.70) domains but lower for limitation adjustment (M=16.11). Activity restriction was greatest in athletics (M=9.17). Functional satisfaction scored highest (M=20.34). Age correlated significantly with activity restriction, while suspension type correlated with limitation adjustment and weight satisfaction.
Conclusion: Despite positive psychosocial adjustment, reliance on basic prosthetic components and marked athletic restrictions highlight gaps in functional rehabilitation. Findings underscore the need for more adaptive prosthetic designs and context-specific interventions to enhance QoL among amputees in low-income settings.
