The Ugandan Youth Quality of Life index: assessing the relevance of incorporating perceived importance into the quality of life measure and factors associated with the quality of life among youth in slum areas of Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

BackgroundWhile quality of life (QoL) has long been an explicit policy goal for international development programmes, no instruments have specifically been developed for measuring health-related QoL in resource-limited settings. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a QoL instrument for use in international aid and development programmes and to assess factors associated with QoL among youth participating in a civic engagement project in Kampala.DesignUsing systematic random sampling, data were collected on 663 participants aged between 13 and 24 years in Kampala. The QoL questionnaire included 36 questions divided into a two-part scale: 18 questions rated for satisfaction (Part 1) and 18 other questions rated on importance (Part 2). The total sample was randomly divided into two split-half samples: one for the exploratory factor analysis (EFA; N=310) and the other for the confirmatorty factor analysis (CFA; N=353). The effect of demographic, socio-economic, and lifestyle factors on QoL was assessed using linear regressions.ResultsThe EFA yielded three factors: living conditions and lifestyle (seven items, α=0.84), social relationships (five items, α=0.86), and personal independence (five items, α=0.76). In the CFA, the initial model demonstrated a poor to marginal fit model. Its re-specification by examining modification indices resulted in a good model fit: Comparative Fit Index=0.95, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=0.06, and p of Close Fit >0.05. The model incorporating perceived importance had lower Akaike Information Criteria and Bayesian Information Criteria values than the unweighted model, thereby providing very strong support to weight satisfaction scores with importance ratings when measuring QoL in Uganda. Poor QoL was associated with poor educational attainment, drug and substance misuse, and family disruption.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that there is a relationship between QoL and lifestyle and structural issues among youth in Uganda. The study provides the first validated QoL measure to allow government and non-government organisations in low- and middle-income countries to track progress of international aid and development programmes.

The impact of the livelihoods and income fortification and socio-civic transformation project on the quality of life, wellbeing, self-esteem, and quality of neighbourhood social environment among the youth in slum areas of in Kampala, Uganda

“…volunteering for community committees). This finding is consistent with existing literature on interventions to improve psychological wellbeing of young people in low resource settings [ 19 , 55 – 57 ].…”

“…Our data collection questionnaire was based on previously validated instrument which had four areas: QoL; psychological wellbeing, self-esteem, the quality of neighbourhood social environment [ 25 ].The QoL instrument comprised 36 items, which we validated in previous studies using structural equation modelling and were found to have robust psychometric properties [ 19 ]. The QoL instrument had three sub-scales: social relations with internal consistency measured by a Cronbach’s alpha (α) of 0.86, living conditions (α = 0.84), and personal independence (α = 0.76).…”

“…The efforts were well intended but have not successfully yielded the desired results mainly because of various encumbrances. For example, the efforts were politically orchestrated without scientific evidence and lacked the critical mass to transform the country’s largest population segment [ 17 – 19 ].…”

Quality of life of adult individuals with intestinal stomas in Uganda: a cross sectional study

“…The concept of QOL broadly encompasses how an individual measures "goodness" of multiple aspects of their life 5 . Research directed to studying QOL has become increasingly important since the 1960's 6 and QOL is now a major factor to consider when instituting any form of therapy 7 . Several studies documented low levels of quality of life specifically because of having the stoma [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] .…”

Sexual, Reproductive Health Needs, and Rights of Young People in Slum Areas of Kampala, Uganda: A Cross Sectional Study

“…Within Kampala, the two divisions of Nakawa and Makindye is where the research project was carried out. Over the past two decades these two divisions have been characterised by high unemployment in concert with a high dependence burden and rampant crime, which presents strong barriers to youth participation in community programmes and negatively affects their well-being [30]. Despite the dire economic and social situations that predispose youth to HIV, studies into their sexual behaviours, sexual education and access to contraceptive services, family planning, sexual consent as a right, and gender based violence are lacking.…”