Quality of life and its influencing factors of people living with HIV or AIDS in Beijing

Abstract

To assess the quality of life of people living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA) and to identify influencing factors. During September to December 2010, by a convenience sampling, a questionnaire survey was undertaken in 310 PLWHA living in Beijing, which included the general questionnaires, SF-36 for assessing quality of life and Berger-HIV stigma scale. T test and multivariable linear regression model were used to analyze the results. For the subjects investigated, the age was (32.87±8.76) years old. Homosexual behavior was the main dissemination (84.52%, 262/310). The results of SF-36 questionnaire were: the summary score 66.75±15.70; physical function 93.00±9.49, role physical 66.53±40.26, bodily pain 73.88±22.63, general health 50.06±22.75, vitality 61.11±19.67, social function 69.50±24.24, role emotional 59.68±42.38, mental health 60.63±19.81. Except physical functioning, the scores of every scale were lower than general persons (P<0.05). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the stronger stigma, the lower the summary score (standardized coefficients (β')=-0.38), role physical (β'=-0.21), bodily pain (β'=-0.13), general health (β'=-0.33), vitality (β'=-0.31), social function (β'=-0.34), role emotional (β'=-0.31), mental health (β'=-0.47) (all P values<0.05). The higher expend on treating HIV, the lower the summary score (β'=-0.17), physical function (β'=-0.28), role physical (β'=-0.15), bodily pain (β'=-0.19), general health (β'=-0.15), social function (β'=-0.11), role emotional (β'=-0.16) (all P values<0.05). Who having work got higher score in the summary score (β'=0.13), physical function (β'=0.13), role physical (β'=0.12), bodily pain (β'=0.12), vitality (β'=0.13), social function (β'=0.12), role emotional (β'=0.12) than others (all P values<0.05). The quality of PLWHA's life was low. High stigma feeling, high expend on treating HIV, having a job were the main influencing factors of quality of life in PLWHA.