The symptom experience of people living with HIV and AIDS in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Karl Peltzer,Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya

doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-271

Abstract

BackgroundSymptom management for persons living with HIV (PLHIV) or AIDS is an important part of care management. Limited information about symptom prevalence exists about HIV infected persons in South Africa, in particular in the context of antiretroviral treatment (ART). The aim of this study was to assess HIV symptoms and demographic, social and disease variables of people living with HIV in South Africa.MethodsIn 2007 607 PLHIV, sampled by all districts in the Eastern Cape Province and recruited through convenience sampling, were interviewed by PLHIV at health facilities, key informants in the community and support groups.ResultsTwo-thirds of the PLHIV (66%) classified themselves with being given an AIDS (advanced stage of HIV) diagnosis, 48% were currently on ART, 35% were currently on a disability grant for HIV/AIDS and for 13% the disability grant had been stopped. Participants reported that on the day of the interview, they were experiencing an average of 26.1 symptoms out of a possible 64. In a regression model with demographic and social variables, higher HIV symptom levels were associated with lower educational levels, higher age, urban residence and not on a disability grant, lack of enough food and having a health insurance, and in a regression model with demographic, social and disease variables only being on ART, lack of enough food and having a health insurance were associated with HIV symptoms.ConclusionSymptom assessment provides information that may be valuable in evaluating AIDS treatment regimens and defining strategies to improve quality of life. Because of the high levels of symptoms reported, the results imply an urgent need for effective health care, home- and community-based as well as self-care symptom management to help patients and their families manage and control AIDS symptoms.

Highlights

Symptom management for persons living with HIV (PLHIV) or AIDS is an important part of care management
It is estimated that in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa 21 294 Persons Living with HIV adults and 1 220 paediatrics were on ARV therapy in 2006 [3]
Numbness/tingling of hands/fingers, weight gain in stomach area, loose stools and skinny arms and legs symptoms were significantly more frequently reported by PLHIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART) than those not on ART, while diarrhoea, sore throat, painful swallowing, sore/bleeding gums and sore/bleeding gums were more frequently reported by those not on ART than those on ART

Summary

Introduction

Symptom management for persons living with HIV (PLHIV) or AIDS is an important part of care management. Limited information about symptom prevalence exists about HIV infected persons in South Africa, in particular in the context of antiretroviral treatment (ART). Of approximately 39.5 million people living with HIV worldwide in 2006, more than 63% were estimated to be from sub-Saharan Africa [1]. About 5.54 million people were estimated to be living with HIV in South Africa in 2005, with 18.8% of the adult population (aged 15–49) and about 12% of the general population (page number not for citation purposes). Women are disproportionately affected, accounting for approximately 55% of HIV-positive people in South Africa [2]. It is estimated that in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa 21 294 Persons Living with HIV adults and 1 220 paediatrics were on ARV therapy in 2006 [3]

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