Quality of life among people living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome receiving anti-retroviral therapy: a study from Nepal

Abstract

PurposeThe present study was undertaken to determine the impact of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) on the quality of life of affected individuals in Nepal.Patients and methodsA cross sectional study was done among 70 individuals attending the Anti-Retroviral Therapy clinic of the University Hospital in Nepal. Quality of life (QOL) was evaluated using World Health Organization Quality of life questionnaire (WHO QOL-BREF) instrument. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 17.0.ResultsThe median scores with interquartile range (IQR) in four domains of QOL in descending order were physical (61; IQR 22), social (58; IQR 33), environmental (56; IQR 13), and psychological (54; IQR 8). Older age was associated with lower perceived overall QOL. Females were more likely to have lower QOL scores in the social and psychological domains. Higher CD4 counts and a married status were significant predictors of higher QOL scores in the environmental domain.ConclusionBeing older, female, single, and having advanced clinical stage is associated with lower QOL scores in people living with AIDS. Lowest QOL scores were seen in the psychological domain suggesting the need of psychological interventions.

Assessment of quality of life and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS

“…This study demonstrated the importance of social demographic variables for quality of life for people dealing with HIV/AIDS. The largest portion of respondents affected were between 31 and 40 years of age and this finding is congruent with the report of Imam et al [11] and Giri et al [12].…”

Quality of Life of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Ho Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In the current study, the overall median percentage score of QoL was 71.29, which is lower than reported by Acharya [16] and Giri et al [17] (80.00) among Nepalese PLHIV, but higher than reported by Oliveira et al [18], (62.5) among Brazilian PLHIV. Other works in the literature in the African setting presented their QoL scores in means, therefore making direct comparison of scores with the current study not plausible [1, 6, 10].…”

Comparative Study of Quality of Life in Patients Living with HIV/Aids in Telangana Region

“…Present study reveals that most of the asymptomatic patients are in Pre ART group. There is a study 20 shown similar findings which has lower score among psychological domain. A low score in the psychological domain may be explained by the increased morbidity, negative feelings, and low self-esteem due to the perception of acquiring incurable disease 20 .…”

“…There is a study 20 shown similar findings which has lower score among psychological domain. A low score in the psychological domain may be explained by the increased morbidity, negative feelings, and low self-esteem due to the perception of acquiring incurable disease 20 . Psychological domain is affected by education which is low in present study, income, occupation, ART treatment (low mean score in ART group in present study), WHO clinical categories 23 .…”

“…The mean scores observed among Pre ART and ART are 11.79 and 11.56 which is almost similar which shows poorer QOL among physical domain. There is a study in Nepal 20 shown highest score for physical domain among other domains. This might be due to the fact that majority of the patients in present study are having higher CD4 where still physically capable of performing their daily activities.…”