quality of life of persons witi-i disabilities in Ghana: roles of higher education, employment and social support systems

Abstract

This study investigated the quality of life of persons with disabilities in Ghana and the role of higher education, employment and social support systems. The study adopted a mixed-methods research with explanatory sequential design. The accessible population was persons with disabilities with higher education qualification in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Northern Regions of Ghana. Exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling technique was used to select 117 patticipants from the three regions for the survey and 18 participants from this number were conveniently sampled for the interviews. A questionnaire and semi-structured interview guide were used to collect data for the study. The questionnaire was administered through online surveys and personal administrations. The interviews were conducted face-to-face and through telephone interviews. The quantitative data were analysed using inferential statistics while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. It was found out that social support systems were the only variable with statistically significant relationship with quality of life of persons with disabilities. Fmther, no relationship was established between higher education and employment, higher education and social support, and employment and social support among persons with disabilities. It was concluded that the relationship between higher education and quality of life could improve with employment and income. Finally, it was concluded tl1at higher education, employment and social support combine to account for a small percentage of quality of life for persons with disabilities. It was recommended that social support systems should be encouraged so as to improve on the quality of life for persons with disabilities.