ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIABETES IN ILORIN SOUTH LGA KWARA STATE

ABSTRACT Background Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health challenge, particularly in low-resource settings where patients face significant barriers to effective management and care. In Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria, there is a need to explore the socio-demographic characteristics of diabetes patients, assess the prevalence of the condition, evaluate their quality of life, and identify factors influencing their well-being. Methodology Ilorin, strategically located between the Northern and Southern regions of Nigeria, boasts a total population of 777,667 residents and spans an area of 765km². The Ilorin Metropolis comprises three primary local government areas: Ilorin West, Ilorin South, and Ilorin East, with Ilorin West housing nearly half (47%) of the population. According to the 2006 population census, the metropolis is divided into eleven districts and encompasses thirty-five political wards. As of 2021, the metropolitan population stood at 974,000, witnessing a 2.53% increase from the previous year, with women constituting 58.0% of the populace (Ilorin Metro Area Population, 2021). Results The study revealed a high prevalence of diabetes among adults, with significant findings linking educational level and income to better quality of life for patients. The majority of patients were middle-aged, female, and Yoruba, with a substantial proportion experiencing poor quality of life due to economic and health-related factors. The presence of co-morbidities was common, and socio-demographic variables such as age, occupation, and income showed varying degrees of association with the quality of life among patients. Among the variables affecting the quality of life for diabetic patients, education stands out as a significant factor, with those having tertiary education showing a much better quality of life compared to those with less education (OR = 3.99 [1.45 - 10.94], p = 0.007). Income also plays a crucial role, as higher monthly incomes are associated with improved quality of life, with odds ratios of 5.47 [1.90 - 15.75], p = 0.002 for >100,000 Naira. Additionally, having health insurance significantly improves quality of life (OR = 2.47 [1.07 - 5.72], p = 0.035), while higher medication costs are linked to poorer quality of life (OR = 0.39 [0.22 - 0.70], p