More than Half of Bipolar Patients attending Emanuel Mental Specialized Hospital has Poor Quality of Life, Emanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: Facility- Based Cross-Sectional Study Design

Background: Bipolar disorders area mental illness where changes in brain functions transform normal emotions to dramatic mood swing between mania and depression.Severity in mood swing may lead to impairment in normal social and occupational functioning.Quality of life is lower in patients' with bipolar disorder than in the general population.Poor quality of life is associated with the length of illness and lack of social support.This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of quality of life and associated factors among people with bipolar disorder in Emanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods:We employed facility based cross-sectional study among 423 bipolar patients attending Emanuel Mental Hospital from April-May 2016.We used a systematic random sampling technique to get respondents.We used Standardized, Structured and pretested questionnaire, WHO quality of life-BREF, Simpson-Angus Scale, and Morisky medication adherence screening tool was used to collect data.The collected data were coded and entered into Epi-Info3.5.3 and analyzed using SPSS version 20.A bivariate and Multivariate analysis was carried out in order to see an association between independent and outcome variables.The strength of association was interpreted using odds ratio and 95% Confidence Interval at P-value <0.05 level of significance.Results: Four hundred eleven respondents were participated in the study making response rate of 97.1%.Out of those, 240 (58.4%) had poor-quality of life.Rural residence (AOR=1.94,95% CI: 1.12-3.34),Primary education (AOR=3.08,95% CI: 1.45-6.53),<200 birrs monthly income (AOR 3.57, 95% CI: 1.48-8.57),>10 years duration of illness(AOR=3.42,95% CI: 1.19-9.77),2-4episode of illness (AOR=3.45,95% CI: 1.61-7.38),and antipsychotic & antidepressant medication(AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.04-4.45)were significantly associated with poor quality life. Conclusion:We found that the prevalence of a poor quality of life among bipolar patients was high.Rural residence, primary education, <200 birrs monthly income, >10years duration of illness, 2-4episode of illness, those who were on antipsychotic & antidepressant medication was significantly associated with poor quality of life.There should be continuous psycheducation and through behavioral change communication and advocacy at all levels focusing on bipolar disorder patients