Life Satisfaction and Socioeconomic Situation among Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury in Community Settings in Bangladesh

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) often face numerous challenges in their communities after completing rehabilitation. This study aimed to examine the socioeconomic status and level of life satisfaction among individuals with SCI living in community settings in Bangladesh.Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted among 150 individuals with SCI who had completed rehabilitation at a specialized center. Participants were recruited from all eight divisional regions of Bangladesh. Life satisfaction and socioeconomic status were assessed using the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-11 (LISAT-11) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), respectively. Spearman’s correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to explore associations between variables.Results: Among the participants, 84% had traumatic SCI, and 90% were male. Paraplegia was present in 64.7%, and 74% resided in rural areas. Approximately 46.7% reported a modest monthly income. The majority experienced moderate disability (43.68%) and reported life satisfaction (30.67%). Higher disability levels were strongly associated with lower life satisfaction (r = -0.852, p < 0.001). Life satisfaction was also significantly correlated with monthly income and injury severity.Conclusion: Individuals with SCI in Bangladesh face substantial reductions in life satisfaction, economic hardship, and challenges in community participation after returning to the community.