Quality of life (QoL) data have been used to assess treatment outcomes and to guide programme and rehabilitation efforts. QoL data in stroke survivors (SSV) from Nigeria are rare. This study compared the QoL of 84 SSV and 87 matched apparently healthy individuals (AH) in southwestern Nigeria. The effect of poststroke duration (PSD) on QoL and the relationship between QoL and motor performance (MP) were also investigated. SSV were recruited from all (7) tertiary health institutions in southwestern Nigeria. The fifth edition of Comprehensive Quality of Life Adult questionnaire and the Modified Motor Assessment Scale were used to assessed QoL and MP, respectively. Data were analyzed by using Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman's correlation test, independent t-test, and Kruskaal-Wallis test (alpha=0.05). The SSV and AH were aged 59.7+/-11.9 and 60.0+/-12.1, respectively. SSVs' mean PSD and MP score were 17.8+/-15.4 months and 55.3%+/-18.9%, respectively. Objective QoL of SSV (42+/-12.8) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the AH (56.3+/-6.7). Subjective QoL of SSV (67.8+/-10.6) was also significantly lower than that of the AH (74.2+/-6.4). AH had significantly higher QoL than SSV in all but material, intimacy, and safety (subjective and objective) domains. There was no significant relationship between MP and QoL, and PSD had no significant influence on QoL. Our findings suggest that stroke survivors in southwestern Nigeria have lower QoL than their apparently healthy counterparts and may benefit from comprehensive management programmes.

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Background: Body image (BI) is a multidimensional construct that includes perceptual, attitudinal, behavioural components, and feedback from other people's perception of oneself. The feedback from others and the degree to which one accepts or rejects it can determine self evaluation and perception. Body weight perception is a strong determinant of nutritional habits and weight management among adolescents. One of the barriers to reducing rise in obesity prevalence could be its cultural acceptability in some developing countries. Objective: To explore the gender influences on perception of self-and opposite-sex body images (BI), perceived body weight and the actual body weight categories at which discrepancies occur among the perceived BIs in undergraduates. Methods: This was a survey of perceptual dimension of BI, perceived body weight and actual body weight carried out in 121 undergraduates aged 21-29years. Results: Discrepancies occurred between self-perceived BI and each of actual body weight (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 confidence interval (CI)), perceived body weight (p= 0.01 at 0.000-0.02 CI) and self-ideal BI (p= 0.03 at 0.000-0.05 CI) of normalweight males. Self-perceived BI and perceived body weight also differed in normal-weight females (p= 0.02 at 0.000-0.04 CI). Discrepancies (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) occurred between self-perceived BI and self-ideal BI, and between self-perceived BI and desired BI (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) in overweight females. Gender differences occurred for self-ideal BI (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 CI), ideal image for the opposite sex (IBIOS) (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) and desired BI (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 CI). Conclusion: Normal-weight males perceived their BI differently from their actual body weight, perceived body weight and self-ideal BI whereas normal-weight females perceived their BI differently from only their perceived body weight. Discrepancies occur between self-ideal BI and self-perceived BI, and between self-perceived BI and desired BI in overweight females. There are differential perceptions of self-ideal BI, IBIOS and desired BI between males and females.

KEYWORDSNigeria; quality of life; stroke survivors Abstract There have been few studies on quality of life (QoL) of Nigerian stroke survivors and none have reported QoL over a long period. This study describes QoL in Nigerian stroke survivors over the first 12 months post-stroke. Sixty-five (33 male and 32 female) stroke survivors were recruited within 72 hours of stroke onset. QoL and depression were assessed monthly for 12 months using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were analysed using the KruskaleWallis test, Friedman test and logistic regression. Fifty-five participants (aged 57.4 AE 14.8 years) completed this study. QoL improved significantly from onset to 6 months but nonsignificantly from 6 months to 12 months. Most (85.2%) stroke survivors had severe depression at 1 month. At 3 months, marital status and spousal support had a significant positive influence on QoL. At 6, 9 and 12 months, marital status, spousal support, educational qualification, and occupational status had a significant positive influence on QoL. Depression was a major determinant of QoL at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Our findings suggest that QoL of Nigerian stroke survivors is low at stroke onset, increases steadily during the first 6 months and little between 6 months and 12 months post-stroke; is influenced positively by marital status, spousal support, educational qualification and occupational status; and negatively influenced by age and depression.

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