Study of Quality of Life among People Living with HIV/AIDS Taking Treatment at Anti-Retroviral Therapy Center of Tertiary Care Hospital, Tirupati

Abstract

Background: Even though the survival of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has improved by ART, their lifestyles and quality of life are affected by several factors like family and community support, and their socio-economic status. Hence, this study was undertaken to estimate the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients based on the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Brief (WHOQOL-HIV BREF) questionnaire and to assess the association of quality of life with socio-demographic variables. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 to December 2020 in a sample of 220 HIV/AIDS patients of age more than 18 years, taking treatment at ART center, Tertiary Care Hospital in Tirupati. The data were collected using a standardized instrument (WHOQOL-HIV BREF). Socio-demographic details of the subjects were also obtained. Data were analyzed using Epi info software 7.2.2.6 version. Results: The overall mean QOL score is 59.3 ± 10.3. The highest mean QOL observed in the physical domain and the most affected domain is the social relationship’s domain. Lower levels of QOL were seen in females, residing in rural areas, illiterates, separated/divorced, who does not reveal their HIV status to their family members, who does not have family support, and these are found to be significantly associated with QOL (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The most affected domain is social relationship’s domain. Age, residence, educational status, marital status, knowledge of HIV status to family members, and their family support were found to be significantly associated with QOL among PLWHA.

Keywords

• art
• hiv/aids
• plwha
• qol
• whoqol-hiv bref