The life quality of the women aged between 15-49 living in the elazig city center and the factors that have an impact on their life quality

Providing women with high quality life standards is an important element for creating a healthy society. In this study, women aged 15-49 living in the Elazıg city centre the factors and that affect their quality of life were investigated. This cross-sectional study included 547 women in the 15-49 year age group in Elazıg city centre. The sample group was selected in the records of family physicians included in the study through the systematic sampling method. The women recruited in the sample group were administered a questionnaire including the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale through face-to-face interviews. The average age of women participated in the study was 32.21±9.88, and 67.5% of those women were married. 13.9% of participants were illiterate/only literate, 79.2% were not working, and 16.3% did not have social security/had a green card. Women in sub-dimensions of the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale physical function, physical role limitations, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role limitations and mental health subscale scores averaged were 81.25±19.49, 59.23±44.69, 57.89±30.31, 56.77±20.34, 53.54±20.06, 76.96±24.51, 68.06±43.59, 64.06±20.72, respectively. The higher education level of women does not change the social function and emotional status (p>0.05), physical function, physical role limitations, pain, general health, vitality and mental health scores increased (p<0.05). The higher monthly income level, physical components the life quality and vitality scores were increased (p<0.05). The life quality scores decreased in the presence of chronic and mental illness (p<0.05). Consequently, it was observed that the women got lower scores from the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale regarding the subscales of physical role limitations, pain, general health, vitality, emotional role limitations and mental health, while they got higher scores in physical function and social functioning. Quality of life is affected by the socio-demographic structure and health properties. In order to improve women?s quality of life, there should be awareness-raising and precautionary action plans conducted with the participation of non-governmental and public organizations. Key words: Woman, 15-49 years of age, quality of life, the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale