OBJECTIVES: The increasing population of older adults and their specific characteristics show the need for the development of specific instruments to measure their quality of life (QoL) in this population. The study adapted and validated the original English version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life for Older Persons (WHOQOL-OLD) to the Nigerian (IGBO) version (I-WHOQOL-OLD) module.

METHODS: This was a cross-cultural adaptation and validation study in which the original English version of the WHOQOL-OLD was translated into I-WHOQOL-OLD language, synthesised, backward translated into English language, subjected to expert panel review and pretested. The final I-WHOQOL-OLD and the original English version were then administered to consecutively recruited 109 older adults from a conveniently selected community in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics. The instrument’s internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha

RESULTS: All the 24 items on the original WHOQOL-OLD were retained. The structure of the I-WHOQOL-OLD differed from that of the original WHOQOL-OLD. The I-WHOQOL-OLD displayed acceptable internal consistency (0.63-0.95), known-group validity (0.60-0.99), convergent validity and ceiling and floor effects.

CONCLUSIONS: The I-WHOQOL-OLD is a reliable and valid tool and thus can be used as for assessing QoL of Igbo-speaking older adults, thus helping to improve their health outcomes.