Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life Among Clergymen with Diabetes and Hypertension: A Case Study of the Apostolic Church – Ghana

Abstract

Background: This thesis investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among clergy members of the Apostolic Church in Ghana, specifically those managing diabetes and hypertension. The study recognizes the unique stressors inherent in pastoral roles, which often intensify health vulnerabilities. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among clergymen with diabetes and hypertension in the Apostolic Church Ghana. Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey with 515 clergymen in the Apostolic Church-Ghana. The WHOQOL-BREF tool was used to assess HRQoL across four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental factors. Socio-demographic and self-reported clinical data were obtained through the administration of closed-ended designed questionnaire. Data were analyzed with STATA software version 18. Non parametric tests (Mann-Whitney) were used to examine relationships between socio-demographics and HRQOL. Results: All respondents were males with a Mean age of 47.34 (SD 7.98) years. The results revealed that the self-reported prevalence of hypertension was (29.9%) while diabetes was (13.4%) within this group. Clergymen with diabetes reported lower physical health scores (M= 60.71, IQR: 53.57–71.43) compared to those without diabetes (M=71.43, IQR 60.71–78.57, p < 0.001), and those with hypertension similarly experienced reduced physical health (M=60.71, IQR 50.00 67.86) relative to their non-hypertensive counterparts (75.00, IQR 64.29–80.36, p < 0.001). The analysis further identified significant associations between HRQoL outcomes and socio demographic factors, including education level and urban residence, suggesting that higher education and urban location correlated with better HRQoL scores. Multiple linear regression analysis determined factors independently associated with QoL domains. Conclusion: The findings provide critical insights into the health challenges the clergy faces and underscore the importance of targeted, context-specific health interventions to their overall well being. Key recommendations include tailored interventions, emphasizing culturally sensitive health promotion, improved support systems within church structures, expanded access to healthcare services for the clergy and future research.