Coping strategies are essential for psychological well-being and healthy survivorship experience of patients with breast cancer. However, there is a research gap in the understanding of coping strategies and their associated factors among patients with breast cancer in Nigeria. This study aimed to investigate coping strategies, focusing on disengagement coping and its relationship with sociodemographic and illness-related factors in a sample of patients with breast cancer in South-South, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 breast cancer patients at a tertiary hospital in the South‒South region of Nigeria. The participants completed a clinico-sociodemographic questionnaire to gather their background information and the 32-item Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI-32) to assess coping. The mean age of the participants was 46.8 years (SD = 13.4), and most participants were employed (89.2

Background: Bullying and substance use are behaviours that occur among adolescents and have potentially adverse implications for normal development, health, and functioning in adulthood. This study aimed to determine the pattern of psychoactive substance use and its relationship with bullying among adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 420 adolescents were randomly recruited from eight secondary schools in Calabar. After informed consent was obtained, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument, and a screening tool for psychoactive substance use were administered. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22, and the alpha level was set at 0.05. Results: Respondents were 201 (47.9%) males and 219 (52.1%) females, with a mean age of 13.98 (SD = 1.79). Prevalence of past-year use was 18.8% for alcohol, 12.4% for inhalants, 6% for stimulants, 6% for cocaine, and 3.3% for cannabis; use of tobacco, opioids, sedatives, and hallucinogens was below 3%. Mean bullying and victimisation scores were 28.8 and 31.4, respectively. Drug users had significantly higher mean scores on both dimensions (p < 0.05). In regression analysis, illicit drug use independently predicted bullying (B = 6.71, 95% CI: 3.66– 9.77, p < 0.001) and victimisation (B = 5.84, 95% CI: 1.98–9.71, p = 0.003) scores, after adjusting for age, gender, and school type. Conclusion: Bullying behaviour and psychoactive substance use are prevalent among adolescents in Calabar. Illicit drug use significantly increases the likelihood of both perpetrating and experiencing bullying, highlighting the need for targeted, school-based mental health and substance use interventions.

BACKGROUND: The Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) is used globally to assess workplace bullying. However, its validity and reliability have not been assessed among Nigerians. Aim: This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised among medical students at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Calabar. All 123 students in the fifth-year class were approached for participation. The Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were administered concurrently. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 23. RESULT: We recruited 119 participants (response rate, 96.74%). Most were males [68, 57.1%] and unmarried [114, 95.8%]. The mean age of the sample was 25.2 (SD=3.2). Probable mental disorder was identified in 52 (43.7%) students, while 64 (53.8%) and 25 (21.0%) were classified as occasionally bullied or bullied, respectively. The correlation between the NAQ-R and the GHQ-12 was 0.47 (p<0.0001). The NAQ-R demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.92). Logistic regression indicated that students experiencing occasional bullying were over three times more likely to screen positive on the GHQ-12 (OR: 3.58, 95% CI: 1.27 - 10.12). Furthermore, those regularly bullied were about ten times more likely to screen positively on the GHQ-12 compared to students who did not report bullying (OR: 9.78, 95% CI: 2.77 - 34.44, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised is a potentially useful measure of workplace bullying among Nigerians.

Context: Coping is a modifiable factor that promotes mental well-being. Among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it might affect outcomes such as quality of life (QOL). Objective: This study aims to determine the role of coping strategies as a predictor of QOL among HIV outpatients in a general hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 200 HIV patients under treatment. Consecutive clinic attendees were surveyed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the 32-item Coping Strategies Inventory, and the World Health Organization QOL in HIV–BREF scale. Statistical analysis was conducted with a significance level set at 0.05. Results: Respondents, with a mean age of 35.54 (standard deviation = 10.88), were predominantly female (67.5%). After accounting for age and gender, linear regression analysis revealed that engagement coping positively predicted all domains (physical, psychological, independence level, social relationships, environment, and spirituality) of QOL (P < 0.05). Disengagement coping, however, emerged as a predictor solely for the social relationship domain (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Coping is a significant determinant of life quality among HIV patients and should be considered in the holistic treatment of patients.

Background: Researchers have consistently found higher rates of mental illnesses, especially depression, in prison populations compared to the general population. Even though specific coping strategies have been implicated as a factor influencing the mental well-being of inmates, little is known about this interplay in resource-poor settings. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and depression among inmates of a prison in Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: This was a two-stage cross-sectional study involving 269 inmates of Calabar Prison, Nigeria. Participants were administered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Coping Strategies Inventory-Short Form, and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Respondents who scored ≥3 on the GHQ-12 together with 10% of low scorers proceeded to the second stage for an interview using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results: The prevalence of depression among study participants was 30.5%. Emotion-focused disengagement coping strategies (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.20) and a history of mental illness before imprisonment (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.34–8.57) significantly predicted depression, whereas problem-focused engagement was protective (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 0.86–0.98). Conclusion: Compared to the general population, depression is more common among prison inmates and is associated with using specific coping strategies. Coping strategies deserve increasing consideration when planning mental health intervention programs for this population.

Psychiatric patients exhibit a higher rate of missed appointments compared to other medical specialities, leading to provider frustration, increased relapse, and suboptimal outcomes. This study investigates the patterns and correlates of missed appointments among outpatients at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Calabar, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study involving 403 consecutive outpatient clinic attendees was conducted. The study questionnaire inquired about sociodemographic characteristics and hospital utilization. The Oslo Social Support Scale, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, the Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination Scale, and the Treatment Perception Questionnaire were administered. The mean participant age was 36.19 years (SD = 11.25), with females constituting 52.6%. Missed appointments occurred in 16.6%. The primary reasons for missed appointments included financial difficulties, forgetfulness, and distance to the hospital. Factors significantly associated with missed appointments were marital status (married), having children, believing appointments were too frequent, medication nonadherence, and concerns about medication cost (P < .05). Additionally, individuals who received unorthodox or delayed traditional care during their first mental health episode were more likely to miss appointments (P < .05). Missed appointments are prevalent among psychiatric patients, often attributed to financial challenges, forgetfulness, and geographical barriers to the hospital. Some of these factors are modifiable, suggesting targeted interventions in adherence improvement programs are needed.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection substantially impacts psychological and emotional wellbeing via various mechanisms. The role of coping strategies and social support in the mental health of People Living with HIV (PLWH) is under-investigated. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their relationship with coping and social support among PLWH. This cross-sectional study involved 251 patients selected using systematic sampling from the HIV Clinic of the General Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. A sociodemographic questionnaire was administered along with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure anxiety and depression. Participants were also administered the 32-item Coping Strategies Inventory and the Oslo Social Support Scale to measure coping strategies and social support, respectively. The respondents were mostly female (72.5%) and had a mean age of 35.3 [SD=10.9]. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 27.1% and 19.5%, respectively. Both anxiety and depression had significant negative associations with problem-focused engagement, emotion-focused engagement and problem-focused disengagement, and significant positive associations with emotion-focused disengagement (p<0.01). Social support was poor and had a significant negative association with anxiety, significant positive associations with problem-focused engagement, emotion-focused engagement and problem-focused disengagement, and significant negative associations with emotion- focused disengagement (p<0.01). Our study highlights the importance of coping strategies and social support among PLWH. Based on findings, adaptive coping and social support protect PLWH from deterioration in their mental health. In addition, PLWH with good social support might cope better with the diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES:To assess the relative importance of social support and family affluence in depression and self-esteem among adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria.METHODS:This cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent students in Calabar, Nigeria. Using stratified random sampling, 332 students were selected for participation. The Family Affluence Scale (FAS), Oslo Social Support Scale (OSS), Becks Depression Inventory (BDI) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory (RSES) were administered. To facilitate comparisons, the sample was divided into four groups: those with low OSS and low FAS scores, those with low OSS and high FAS scores, those with high OSS and low FAS scores, and those with high scores in both OSS and FAS. Groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis Test. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of depression and self-esteem. All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 21.RESULTS:Respondents with low levels of social support, irrespective of family affluence, had significantly higher depression scores and significantly lower self-esteem scores (P< 0.05). In linear regression analyses, social support (95%CI [-1.35,-0.58]) and female gender (95%CI [1.49,5.29]) emerged as predictors of depression, while social support (95%CI [0.25,0.64]) and age (95%CI [-0.79,-0.11]) emerged as predictors of self-esteem. Affluence did not predict depression or self-esteem.CONCLUSIONS:Social support is of greater relative importance in depression and self-esteem in our study. In developing nations with lean resources, enhanced social support might buffer against the effect of low socio-economic status on mental health.

OBJECTIVE:Social inequalities have serious health consequences for the developing child. Measuring these disparities is challenging, and the Family Affluence Scale (version II), a proxy indicator based on material wealth, was developed as a solution. However, it has not been validated for use in Sub-Saharan Africa and may not be applicable in developing countries. This preliminary study aimed to determine the convergent validity and reliability of a culturally adapted version of the FAS II.METHODS:A cross-sectional study was carried out among 422 senior secondary school students in Calabar, Nigeria. Modified versions of the Family Affluence Scale Version II (FAS II) were tested for their psychometric properties as proxy measures of socioeconomic status among Nigerian adolescents. Cronbach's alpha was computed as a measure of internal consistency, while Spearman's rank correlation and regression analysis were done to assess convergent validity.RESULTS:The mean sample age was 14.95 (±1.53) years, with an approximately equal gender distribution. Internal consistency was 0.68 for the 4-item version of the modified scale and increased to 0.75 when the item about travelling abroad was deleted. The modified FAS II scores (4 items) had a significant positive correlation with tuition cost (r=0.48, p<0.001), paternal educational attainment (r=0.27, p<0.001), and maternal educational attainment (r=0.30, p<0.001). Similarly, the 3-item version had a significant positive correlation with tuition cost (r=0.52, p<0.001), paternal educational attainment (r=0.24, p<0.001), and maternal educational attainment (r=0.30, p<0.001). Moderate (aOR: 4.25; 95%CI 2.45-7.39) and high affluence (aOR: 11.43; 95%CI 6.36-20.55) predicted attending more expensive schools. Moderate affluence (aOR: 2.15; 95%CI 1.28-3.62) and high affluence (aOR: 5.21; 95%CI 2.76-9.84) predicted a higher paternal education. Also, moderate affluence (aOR: 2.18; 95%CI 1.31-3.63) and high affluence (aOR: 7.42; 95%CI 3.76-14.66) predicted higher maternal education. The 3-item version performed similarly in terms of its predictive ability.CONCLUSION:The modified version of the FAS II appears to have sufficient validity and reliability for measuring the socio-economic status of adolescents in Nigeria.

Background: Coping is essential for adjusting to life's stresses to optimize wellbeing. This study examined associations between coping, quality of life, and psychological wellbeing among adult patients seen in the primary care clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we elicited information from 230 subjects that were selected using systematic sampling. Four instruments were administered: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Coping Strategies Inventory – short form (CSI-SF), the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Pearson correlation and logistic regression were done using IBM SPSS version 23.0. Results: Most subjects were less than 30 years old (54.3%) and female (53.0%). Problem-focused engagement positively correlated with all QOL domains and associated negatively with depression (p<0.05). Emotion-focused engagement positively correlated with the psychological and environmental domains (p<0.05). Emotion-focused disengagement negatively correlated with the physical, psychological, and social domains and positively correlated with anxiety and depression (p<0.05). Problem-focused disengagement positively correlated with the psychological domain and negatively correlated with depression (p<0.05). In logistic regression, emotion-focused disengagement was the only predictor of psychiatric diagnosis (OR: 1.05, 95%, CI: 1.01-1.09). Conclusion: Coping strategies are linked to life quality and mental wellness. More research is advocated to explore the observed interrelationship further.

Background: During the pandemic's peak, changes in sleep and dreaming were reported around the world.Objective: The objective was to assess changes in sleep and dreaming during the lockdown phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Nigeria.It also aimed to determine how these changes might be related to COVID-19-related fear.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.Data were collected from 288 respondents using an online survey.Apart from sociodemographic characteristics, questions were asked about sleep and dream changes.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCS) were also administered.Results: The mean age of respondents was 33 years, and 52% were females.Poor sleep quality was present in 65.1%.An increase in dream recall frequency (DRF) was reported in 20.5%, while 15.5% mainly had negatively themed dreams.Sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction were significantly associated with changes in DRF (p <0.05).Subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, overall sleep quality, and fear of COVID-19 were all significantly associated with the theme of dreams (p <0.05).In binary logistic regression, fear of COVID-19 [odds ratio (OR): 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.13],negatively themed dreams (OR: 8.03, 95% CI: 1.81-35.57),and positively themed dreams (OR: 0.38 95% CI: 0.17-0.87)emerged as predictors of sleep quality.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted sleep quality at its peak.Clinical significance: Clinicians should pay more attention to dream changes as they could serve as indicators of sleep quality.

Abstract Purpose This report is aimed at addressing the qualities of services rendered by ward one of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Calabar, Cross River state, with the sole purpose of scientifically identifying challenges and proffering necessary solution based on the findings of this research. Methods This report was produced by members of the quality improvement unit of the hospital as a statutory function and mandate to asses all units in the hospital with the sole aim of improving service delivery. It is a qualitative analysis research methodology. A rating scale for this research was developed by the quality improvement unit of the hospital after an extensive consultation, collaborations and meetings by this team. Two nurses, two health assistants, a pharmacist, two medical doctors, a psychologist, two social workers, an occupational therapist, two crisis intervention staff, making a total of thirteen staff were interviewed. Twelve service users and six service users’ relations making a total of thirty one subjects that were planned for the interview. Saturation was achieved with the seventh service user. So eight service users were actually interviewed. And the actual subjects interviewed were twenty seven subjects. Results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THEME RATING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theme 1. Well Organized setting with adequate Instruments and staff performance Achieved partially (A/P) Theme 2. Satisfactory services and patients satisfaction Achieved partially (A/P) Theme 3. Effective ward interventions. Achieved partially (A/P) Theme 4. Available Facilities Achieved partially (A/P) Theme 5. Promotion of Patients Right Achievement Initiated (A/I) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion The organisation of ward one settings are flawed, with non-availability of working tools and not so good staff performance on their duties. Service users’ satisfaction of the hospitals services are not so good and the satisfaction with the services are low as well. In the event of a major challenges on the ward the availability intervention are very low and also in the face of no or very few facilities. Service users’ rights are not full filled as well. Conclusions and Recommendations Ward one is poorly organised and the services offered are not satisfactory. Interventions to emerging issues are poor with the ward conditions not favouring optimal service provision so also is poor interventions to emergencies and there is also human rights violation. Training and retraining of staff is recommended, so is regular and broad based supervision of staff by their superior, ward one should be urgently equipped with relevant medical equipment and adequate recreational facilities should be provided to the service users as well.

INTRODUCTION:Recently, there has been an increase in the abuse of relatively newer substances sometimes in unusual combinations. Some of these drugs and their street names are unfamiliar to researchers and clinicians, hindering their identification. Our objective was to investigate current trends in drug abuse, focusing on eliciting drugs of use and their street names in Calabar, Nigeria.METHODS:Using a qualitative design, we conducted focus group discussions among 15 male in-patients of the drug treatment ward of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar. Data was collected as audio recordings and handwritten notes and was analyzed using the Nvivo software.RESULTS:Prescription drugs like flunitrazepam (street name Blueboy, Sweetnol), trihexyphenidyl, codeine and tramadol were commonly abused. Illicit substances included cannabis of various potencies (each having unique street names), vulcanizing gum (street name Solution), cocaine and heroin (street name Thailand). Some unusual substances such as soakaway fumes, formaldehyde or gammalin (lindane) mixed with cannabis were described. Few supposedly nonpsychoactive substances were reportedly potent when consumed alone (e.g., leaves of the papaya plant) or in mixtures, such as menthol candy dissolved in soft drinks. Other prescription drugs such as Benadol or D4, unfamiliar to the researchers, were volunteered.CONCLUSION:Newer substances of abuse in their various combinations are abused by Nigerian youth. More studies are needed to elucidate further the chemical composition of these drugs/mixtures and their mechanism of action.

BACKGROUND:The coronavirus pandemic is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While physical recovery has been made a priority, the psychological wellbeing of recovered patients is not receiving the attention it deserves.CASE PRESENTATION:We present the case of a 27-year-old male who developed severe depression associated with anxiety and suicidal ideations two weeks after full recovery from COVID- 19 infection. Significant somatization was also present at the onset which he misattributed to a recurrence of the infection. He was admitted for in-patient psychiatric care and fully recovered after six weeks of medication and psychotherapy.CONCLUSION:Infection with the virus is a psychologically distressing experience that can trigger mental disorders in vulnerable individuals. Our report highlights the mental health needs of all COVID-19 patients and the need for psychological evaluation in the post-recovery period.

Background: Brain fag and burnout are exhaustion syndromes first described in different cultural contexts, and both occur among students.They share some similarities but have not been compared in research.Objective: This study sought to determine the relationship between brain fag and burnout among adolescent students in Calabar, Nigeria.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 810 students were recruited from ten secondary schools in Calabar.The Brain Fag Syndrome Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey were administered.Results: The mean sample age was 15.93 (±1.35) years, and the gender distribution was approximately equal.The emotional exhaustion and cynicism dimensions of burnout were significantly associated with brain fag syndrome (p<0.05).Respondents with high emotional exhaustion (Odds ratio [OR]=3.3,confidence interval [CI]=2.06-5.36)and cynicism (OR=2.7,CI=1.66-4.39)were more likely to meet the threshold for brain fag syndrome.Principal components analysis of items from both instruments yielded a four-factor structure, and one had substantial loadings from both scales.Conclusions: Both syndromes are related, probably due to an overlap in core exhaustion symptoms.More research is needed to elucidate their relationship further.

Background Child abuse occurs worldwide and negatively impacts the health, functioning and psychological wellbeing of victims. Its effect on adolescent mental health has been insufficiently explored in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of child abuse on the occurrence of depression and suicidality among Nigerian adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 327 secondary school students in Calabar, Nigeria. Beck’s depression inventory, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (SF) assessing emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect, and questions on suicidality from the Nigerian version of the Global School-based Student health survey (GSHS) were administered. Results Sexual abuse (41.3%) was the commonest type, followed by physical neglect (38.5%) and physical abuse (30.0%). Over two-thirds (67.3%) had experienced at least one type of abuse. All types of abuse emerged as significant predictors of depression, with physical abuse being the strongest predictor. Also, all abuse types predicted various self-harming behaviours (considering, planning or attempting suicide and deliberate self-harm). There was a stepwise increase in the risk of depression and suicidal behaviour with the experience of more abuse types. All dimensions of abuse were significantly correlated, with the strongest association between physical and emotional neglect. Conclusion Child abuse predicts depression and suicidality and is worse with multiple types of abuse. Public health interventions to prevent childhood trauma and screen for mental disorders in victims should be instituted in Nigeria.

Context: Globalization and technological advances are associated with rapid social and economic changes which are accompanied by increased pressures in the work environment. Job stress is a hidden pandemic, especially in developing countries where it remains largely unaddressed. Aims: The objective is to determine the pattern and sociodemographic correlates of job stress among staff in a Nigerian psychiatric hospital using the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) indicator tool. Methods and Material: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 292 full-time staff who were randomly selected across hospital units. Informed consent was obtained and the study questionnaires which included a sociodemographic questionnaire and the HSE indicator tool were administered. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 22 and the level for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The study sample comprised of 133 (45.5%) men and 159 (54.5%) women. The mean age was 35.03 and (SD = 7.45). A high level of stress (<20th percentile) was found in the demands, control, and relationships domains. Sociodemographic correlates of stress in domain analysis included age, marital status, staff level, parenthood, and being a clinical worker. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a high level of stress in domains of the HSE indicator among respondents. More research is needed to further examine the stress levels of hospital workers.

Purpose The major objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the coping strategies of glaucoma patients at a secondary eye care unit with a view to deciding whether an intervention programme would be justified. Patients and Methods The coping styles of 130 consenting adult glaucoma patients aged 18 years and above who were being treated for glaucoma in the Cross River State Eye Care Programme clinic in Calabar, Nigeria, were investigated by means of the 28-item Brief-COPE inventory in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Results The mean age of the participants was 54.2 years (±14.3) while almost three quarters (73.8%) of them were married. About four out of every five persons examined (81.5%) had a minimum of primary education. “Substance (alcohol and other drug) use”, “self-blame” and “behavioural disengagement” are coping styles that were reported by 33%, 42% and 42% of the participants, respectively. This group of patients should be identified in the clinic for appropriate psychological intervention. Conclusion The present study confirms previous findings and contributes additional evidence that suggests that coping strategies should be considered in the holistic management of glaucoma patients. The information from the current study can be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving the coping styles of glaucoma patients.

Objectives: Self-reported vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) allows us to assess the effect of disease and treatments from the patient’s perspective, focusing on an individual’s subjective satisfaction and functional ability. The previous studies mostly focused on the impact of visual function deficits on VRQOL in patients with visual impairment. This study seeks to investigate the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on VRQOL in visually impaired patients. Material and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included consecutive adult patients with visual impairment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital eye clinic. All patients had presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better eye. VRQOL was assessed by the validated English version 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics and ocular parameters were recorded. Sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated based on age, sex, area of residence, marital status, religion, educational attainment, and monthly income. Each characteristic was stratified into groups or levels. Analysis of variance, including post hoc analysis was used to evaluate the association between sociodemographic characteristics and VRQOL. Results: A total of 270 patients were enrolled. After adjustments for category and causes of visual impairment, older age (P < 0.001), rural dwellers (P < 0.001), widowhood (P = 0.006), and no formal education (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with low mean visual function (VF) scores. Similarly, older age (P < 0.001), rural dwellers (P < 0.001), widowhood (P = 0.003), and no formal education (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with low mean QOL scores. The difference in the mean score of VF and QOL by religion, sex, and monthly income was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Besides the degree of visual impairment, the interplay of certain social and demographic factors plays a remarkable role in determining the QOL in visually impaired patients. Therefore, an individualized management plan, including psychosocial therapy is imperative in the care of visually impaired patients.