Psychosocial Determinants of Bad Quality of Life Among People Living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Drugs in Kinshasa /DR Congo

Abstract

Context and Objective: The search for psychosocial determinants of bad quality of life (Qol) in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHA) under Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) constitutes a real public health problem in Kinshasa. Determine the psychosocial factors of bad Qol among PLWHA on antiretrovirals in Kinshasa. Methods: This was a case control study carried out in Kinshasa from January 15 to April 15, 2021, which included 1082 subjects divided into two groups including 541 PLWHA patients and 541 no-PLWHA. Sampling was non-probability based on matching patients from case to control. Recruitment was carried out first among PLWHA, then matching was done by age and sex considering the sample of PLWHA. The variables of interest were sociodemographic, condom use, psychoactive substance abuse, perceived stress, anxiety-depression, and bad Qol. Results: The average age of PLWHA was 50.4±10.7 years with a sex ratio of 2.81. A third of PLWHA (32.9%) were married (p<0,001), 9.2% used condoms (p<0,001), 68% had a secondary education (p=0,006), 54.3% had an occupation (p=0,005), 54.2% attended independent churches (p=0,033), 52.1% had an average socioeconomic level (p<0,001), 12.2% consumed alcohol (p<0,001), 15.3% had a bad Qol. The main determinants of bad quality of life were stage 4 (ORa : 3,06 IC95% : 1,47-7,79), side effects due to HAART (ORa : 1,90 IC95% : 1,04-3,60), perceived stress (ORa : 4,14 IC95% : 1,32-12,94) and anxiety-depression (ORa : 6,88 IC95% : 1,60-9,43). Conclusion: Bad quality of life is present among PLWHA in Kinshasa. It was linked to stage 4, side effects due to Highly active antiretroviral therapy, perceived stress, anxiety-depression in HIV-positive people.