RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SOCIAL SUPPORT, COPING STRATEGIES, AGE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF VESICOVAGINAL FISTULA PATIENTS AT MURTALA MUHAMMAD SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, KANO, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study investigated the relationships among social support and coping strategies and psychological wellbeing as well as the and age differences of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) patients at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano State. Three hypotheses were tested. Survey research design was used for this study. A total number of 220 patients were purposively sampled as participants for the study. Three sets of research questionnaires named multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), psychological wellbeing scale (PWB), and coping strategies scale were used as instruments for data collection. 220 questionnaires were administered and 216 were filled and returned for data analysis. Frequency count and percentages were used in organizing and describing the demographic information of the participants. t-test and pearson product moment correlation coefficient (PPMC) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that social support (r = 369, p<0.05) and coping strategies (r = 351, p<0.05) have significant relationship with psychological wellbeing among VVF patients at MMSH Kano. The findings also revealed that young VVF patients report better psychological wellbeing than older VVF patients at MMSH Kan (t (214) = 3.57, p<0.05).. Based on the results, the study concluded that, social support. coping strategies and age differences influenced psychological wellbeing of VVF patients at MMSH Kano. It is, therefore, recommended that VVF patients especially older VVF patients should get more social support and knowledge of coping strategies from their family, community members as well as health workers in order to have better psychological wellbeing.