Quality of life among PLHIV enrolled under TANSACS during COVID era – a mixed method study

Abstract

ABSTRACT The burden of avoidable illness, accidents and impairments can be estimated by understanding the quality of life, and it can also offer important new insights into the connections between risk factors and the quality of life. This study assessed the quality of life of people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic which would have caused substantial difficulties for such individuals. Data were collected using WHOQOL-BREF SCALE and FGD Semi-Structured Questionnaire. People living with HIV enrolled under TANSACS were included. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate the association between the demographic variables and the domains of the quality of life. The quality of life was determined using 4 domains. The average score for each domain includes physical health, 54.39, psychological, 44.85, social relationships, 48.48 and environment 57.69. The average overall score for the quality of life was 51.35. The occupation variable is significant with all the domains; physical health (P = 0.030), psychological (P = 0.046), social relationships (P = 0.027) and environment (P = 0.023) and the gender variable is significant with physical health (P = 0.026), social relationship (P = 0.007) domains. COVID-19 worsened quality of life for HIV patients, impacting healthcare, support, jobs, and stigma. The employment status also significantly impacted.