Quality of life of People living with HIV and AIDS attending the Antiretroviral Clinic, University College Hospital, Nigeria

Oluyemisi F Folasire,Achiaka E Irabor,Ayorinde M Folasire

doi:10.4102/phcfm.v4i1.294

Oluyemisi F Folasire, Achiaka E Irabor + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v4i1.294

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundQuality of life (QOL) is an important component in the evaluation of the well-being of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), especially with the appreciable rise in longevity of PLWHA. Moreover, limited studies have been conducted in Nigeria on how PLWHA perceive their life with the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Scale (WHOQOL-Bref) instrument.ObjectiveThis study assessed the QOL of PLWHA attending the antiretroviral (ARV) clinics, UCH Ibadan, Nigeria.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2008 that involved 150 randomly selected HIV-positive patients who were regular attendees at the antiretroviral clinic, UCH Ibadan. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic data, satisfaction with perceived social support, medical records, and QOL was assessed with WHOQOL-Bref.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 38.1 ± 9.0 years and the male: female ratio was 1:2. The mean CD4 count was higher in female patients than in male patients, 407 cells/mm3: 329 cells/mm3 (p = 0.005). The mean QOL scores on the scale of (0–100) in three domains were similar: psychological health, 71.60 ± 18.40; physical health, 71.60 ± 13.90; and the environmental domain, 70.10 ± 12.00; with the lowest score in the social domain, 68.89 ± 16.70. Asymptomatic HIV-positive patients had significantly better mean QOL scores than symptomatic patients in the physical (74.04 ± 16.85 versus 64.47 ± 20.94, p = 0.005) and psychological domains (76.09 ± 12.93 versus 69.74 ± 15.79, p = 0.015). There was no significant difference in the mean QOL scores of men compared to those of women, in all domains assessed.ConclusionHigh QOL scores in the physical, psychological and environmental domains may be reflective of the effectiveness of some of the interventions PLWHA are exposed to at the ARV clinic, UCH Ibadan (on-going psychotherapy, free antiretroviral drugs). Relatively low social domain scores may suggest ineffective social support networks, because PLWHA are still exposed to stigmatisation and discrimination. An improvement in social support for PLWHA, therefore, will improve their quality of life further.

Highlights

Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost 60 million people have been infected with HIV and 25 million people have died of HIV-related causes
This study provides baseline information on the perceived Quality of life (QOL) of people living with HIV and AIDS with regard to the influence of service delivery and health status as from the time that care and treatment in University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, were accessed
Of the 150 people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) who participated in the study, 93 (62.0 %) were female and 57 (38.0 %) were male, and the mean age was 38.1 ± 9 years

Summary

Introduction

Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost 60 million people have been infected with HIV and 25 million people have died of HIV-related causes. An estimated 22.5 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa as of the end of 2009. Nigeria ranks second in sub-Saharan Africa because of her large population of approximately 152.9 million.[3] Since the first report of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria in 1986, the national prevalence from antenatal surveys demonstrated a steady increase from 1.8% in 1991 to 4.5% in 1995, and peaked at 5.8% in 2001; after that it started to decline slowly to 4.4% in 2005. With the current prevalence of 4.1%, it is estimated that more than 3.1 million Nigerians are infected as of the end of 2010.4 HIV and AIDS has debilitating effects on all aspects of the lives of individuals and families; ranging from physical health, as well as the psychological, economic and social aspects of life.[3]. Limited studies have been conducted in Nigeria on how PLWHA perceive their life with the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Scale (WHOQOL-Bref) instrument

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion