COVID-19 Pandemic Fear, Anxiety and Quality of Life among Adolescent Girls with Special Needs

Abstract

Background: The Corona Virus Disease 2019 is a major ongoing concern for theadolescents with disability. Aim: The study aimed to assess the effect of covid-19pandemic fear, anxiety and quality of life among adolescent girls with special needs.Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted atDeaf& dumb and blind schools for girls. A total of 140 deaf & dumb and blind girlswere included in the study. Study tools: Three tools were used included; tool 1 (Part1): Personal characteristics of the adolescent girls with special needs. Tool 1 (Part 2):World Health Organization Quality of Life. Tool 2: The COVID 2019 Fear scale.Tool 3: COVID 2019 anxiety scale. Results: It was found that 90.7% of the girlswere from rural area, 85.7% were deaf and dumb and 61.4% of them had secondaryeducation. 67.1% of Adolescent girls with special needs had high quality of lifebefore the pandemic while they had moderate quality of life during. Conclusion:Adolescent girls with special needs had high level of Quality of Life before thepandemic, while difficulties and restrictions during the pandemic negatively affectedadolescent Quality of Life. Age, ccupationwere affecting the quality of life domains. Recommendations: It is recommended toconduct training programs for adolescents with disabilities to improve their quality oflife.