FACTORS AFFECTING SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN PUNJAB-PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present study highlighted extent of social support perceived available and explored factors which affected the availability of social support to people living with HIV/AIDS in Punjab, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was done on HIV patients registered with PACP. A sample of 420 patients was selected from two treatment centers conveniently. The majority of respondents had moderate to high-level support perceived available to them in overall social support as well as in all its forms (tangible, affective, emotional, social interaction). Gender showed a weak and inverse relationship with perceived social support. Age had a negative and nonsignificant relationship with social support, while education, employment status and monthly income had a positive and significant correlation with perceived social support. On the other hand, length of disease had negative and significant correlation with social support. Keywords: Social Support, HIV/AIDS, Tangible Support, Affective Support, Emotional Support, Positive Social Interaction.