The body image and its relation to self-esteem among amputation patients at Artificial Limbs Hospital at Kut City, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Throughout history, peoples live through vicissitudes from situations of security, peace, recovery to situations of war and the vicissitudes of nature and its cruelty over the diversity, intensity. The current study aimed to evaluate the self-esteem (SE) of patients who are suffering from amputees at Kut city, in Middle Iraq.

Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional design is selected to determine body image (BI) and self-esteem (SE) among the amputated patients and to identify if the body image has been associated with self-esteem. By non-probability purposive sample composed of 300 subjects from both gender male and female with a different age. The pilot study was applied to establish the questionnaire's dependability before it was presented to experts to test validation. The data were gathered through the use of interviews, and it was then evaluated utilizing a descriptive statistics & inferential statistical data analysis strategy.

Results:  The study results shows that the more participants is male patients and their aged between (50-59) years old. Majority amputation site caused by diseases have recorded was the lower limbs also the war for more than 10 years. The most of amputated patients have a negative responses towards body image of them. Additionally, the majority of responses from patients who had limbs amputated show that they never felt confident in themselves (57%) Self-esteem and body image had a positive correlation (r=0.574; p=0.000).

Conclusions:  Amputated patients regard themselves adversely, which leads to low SE, while a negative BI affects self-esteem. To increase the possibility of early intervention, hospitals need to have specialists in mental health and psychological therapy in these instances and to guide amputation cases to reduce psychological issues.