Body Image and Its Association With Self-esteem Among Amputation Cases at Prosthetics Center in Hilla City, Iraq

Throughout history, people have lived through various situations of security, peace, recovery, and war, as well as the cruelty over the diversity, intensity, duration, or shortness of life. This study aimed to assess the self-esteem of amputees living in Hilla City, Babylon Province, in Center of Iraq.

A descriptive correlational study was conducted to determine the association between body image and self-esteem of amputees. By a purposive sampling method, 200 subjects from both genders and different age groups (25-35, 36-46, 47-57, 58-68, and >69 years) were recruited. The study data were collected through the modified questionnaire of multidimensional body-self relations questionnaire, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and interviews with the patients individually. The obtained data were collected and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics.

Most participants were male patients aged between 58 and 68 years. The lower limbs were the most amputation site caused by the war for less than five years. The majority of amputees had negative responses toward their body image. As well as depicts (39%) as a majority response of amputated patients were never feel with their self-esteem. There was a high reverse association between body image and self-esteem (P<0.01).

Our analysis reflects that amputees see themselves negatively, which leads to a lack of self-esteem. Also, a feeling of negative body image affects their self-esteem. Hospitals should provide specialists in mental health and psychological therapy to increase the chance for early intervention and psychological treatment in these cases. The hospitals must provide programs to guide amputees and reduce their psychological problems.