GENDER, AGE, LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND TRIBE ON BODY-IMAGE ANXIETY AMONG LOWER-LIMB AMPUTEES

Abstract

The study explored the influence of gender, age, level of education and tribe on manifestations of body-image anxiety among lower-limb amputees, and this was tested with four corresponding hypotheses. Purposive sampling technique was employed in the identification of 55 participants: in-patient and out-patients, drawn from prosthesis and orthotics centre of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos. Their age ranged from 14-70 (mean age = 38 years). Participants were assessed with Amputees Body-Image Scale (ABIS), a 29-item questionnaire with likert-type responses. All participants indicated clear concern with body-image (anxiety) with the following mean and SD scores: (X = 62.50, SD = 9.98) for males and (X = 76.72, SD = 10.4) for females. Results showed that gender significantly affects manifestations of body-image anxiety among amputees while no statistically significant differences were recorded for age, level of education and tribe. It was recommended that management of amputees should take cognizance of the emotional component of the condition.