Coping Strategies among Patients Attending HIV Clinics in a North-central State of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Nigeria ranks third among the countries with the highest HIV/AIDS burden in the world, next only to India and South Africa. The North-Central zone which Kwara State belongs to has the highest concentration of HIV prevalence rate of 7.5%, while the North-Western zone recorded the lowest prevalence of 2.1%; Kwara state has a prevalence rate of 2.2%. Aims: The study assessed the coping strategies adopted by patients attending HIV clinics in a North-central city of Nigeria. Methods: The study design was descriptive cross-sectional involving 384 HIV-positive patients who were systematically recruited at 5 public service delivery sites in Ilorin- a North-central city, Nigeria was used for the study. Coping strategies were measured using the Brief COPE scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0. Level of significance was pre-determined at P value <0.05 at a confidence level of 95%. Results: Female respondents constituted 222 (58.0%) while males were 162 (42.0%). Respondents experienced varying proportion of coping strategies of which Self-distraction 288 (75.0%), active coping 249 (64.8%), emotional support 228 (59.4%), among others were the major strategies adopted by respondents. Conclusion: HIV is a chronic disease with heavy burden on both patients and health facility rendering services for the care of these patients. A good proportion of respondents interviewed adopted varying coping strategies. Sustained social and psychological support will improve further the coping strategies of living with HIV.

Impacts of Spirituality on Health Status of HIV/AIDS Infected People: A Study of HIV/AIDS Control Centers in District Gujrat and Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan

“…HIV-infected patients incorporate spirituality / religious practices as a way to cope, to bring a sense of meaning, to help reframe their lives, and purpose to their lives in the face of an often devastating condition. Spirituality has also been associated with life satisfaction, quality of life, functional health status and overall well-being (Ahmed et al, 2021).…”