Evaluation of the health-related quality of life and associated factors in Zimbabwean adults living with HIV: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective HIV remains a global burden, with the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region reporting the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). An exponential improvement in the accessibility and uptake of antiretroviral treatment across SSA has significantly improved outcomes for PLHIV. Hence, HIV care goals have shifted from reducing mortality and morbidity to improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study uses generic and condition-specific HRQoL outcomes to holistically determine the HRQoL of Zimbabwean adult PLHIV and associated factors. HRQoL is a dynamic subject construct that warrants continuous evaluation to provide meaningful feedback to various stakeholders. We enrolled 536 adult PLHIV in Zimbabwe. Collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression. Results Our study shows a high HRQoL perception by Zimbabwean PLHIV. Anxiety, depression, and poor environmental health were widely reported domains influencing HRQoL. Also, being aware of HIV status for over a year, not experiencing an adverse event, being married, having adequate finances and food security and having higher educational status were associated with higher HRQoL. It is essential to integrate mental health care into routine HIV care to improve treatment outcomes and HRQoL. Last, implementing bespoke multisectoral HRQoL-enhancement interventions is paramount.

Understanding perspectives of HIV/AIDS affected households on food and nutrition interventions and social protection programmes in Zimbabwe

“…The presented study is one of the few qualitative studies that have managed to capture the views of the different groups of PLWHIV in Zimbabwe, that is, men, women, and the youths. Previous studies have either focused on women ( 23 ), adults ( 18 ), or children ( 16 ) and few cross-sectional studies considered all the ages groups and sex in one study. The low participation of men in intervention programmes reported in the presented study is common across other studies presented in literature.…”

“…Several quantitative analyses have been conducted in Zimbabwe to establish the food and nutrition status of HIV-affected households (16)(17)(18). Major findings from these studies are that (i) HIV-affected households are more likely to be cereal food insecure than the not affected households, (ii), female headed households are more likely to be HIV-affected as compared to male headed households and are more vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity as compared to their male counterparts, and (iii) HIV-affected households are at a disadvantage with regards to social protections and they are not a priority in most of the social protection programmes.…”