Analyzing the Vulnerability of Children of Recovered Leprosy Patients: A Case Study of a Leprosy Village in Vietnam

Children of recovered leprosy patients (CRLPs) may experience a significantly lower quality of life (QoL). This study analyzed the QoL of CRLPs in Vietnam by examining their physical and mental health, self-esteem, family, friends, and school using the Kid-KINDLR health scale (Vietnamese version) between 2016 and 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to CRLPs (n = 58) and a control group (n = 47). The results were subjected to statistical tests and factor analysis. A comparison of both groups revealed CRLPs reported a significantly lower QoL and significantly diminished outcomes for physical health- and family-related items. Factor analysis was performed assuming the latent factor of vulnerability for the inferior QoL group. CRLPs exhibited a different QoL structure as vulnerability potentially influenced the decline of QoL on physical health. Traditional health measures such as the Kid-KINDLR cannot easily verify latent factors affecting QoL; hence, future analyses should assume the existence of underlying influences.