Community Based Non Communicable Disease Services as a Predictor of Improved Quality of Life of People Living with HIV in Uganda: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

A comprehensive and culturally applicable community based Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) services package was implemented with an aim to test the effectiveness of the community based NCD services on the quality of life (QoL) of people with HIV. The Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was conducted to compare the effectiveness of the community based NCD services as intervention. The control group received the usual HIV services in the community. Participants were randomly allocated to receive weekly and monthly intervention sessions using the standard care in the community ARV drug distribution points. Paired and independent t-tests were performed to compare changes in the QoL scores at the baseline and the endline. Between November and December 2018, 1076 individuals were screened, of whom 438 were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group in the ratio of 1:1. The post intervention results revealed that the community based NCD services were effective and improved the QoL in all the three domains; the physical, environmental and social relationship domains. The QoL was higher at endline across all domains in the treatment group compared to the control group, the mean differences were statistically significant (p = 0.000 < 0.05). Thus, the community based NCD services were efficacious in improving QoL of HIV infected people. Findings could be utilized at regular community service settings for its sustainability and long-term effect. The intervention created improved understanding of HIV and NCD integration health promotion strategies and community support systems activities by the VHT, ART expert clients and the community volunteers.