scholarly journals Quality of life domains relevant to people living with HIV and AIDS who are on antiretroviral therapy in Swaziland

Curationis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa T. Ntshakala ◽  
Thandisizwe R. Mavundla ◽  
Bethabile L. Dolamo

Quality of life (QOL) domains that are context specific to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Swaziland are unknown. This presents a problem when research has to be conducted on QOL of PLWHA who are on ART. As a result, this study was conducted to identify, validate and describe domains necessary to assess QOL of PLWHA, who are on ART in Swaziland. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was used for this study. The first phase dealt with a review of fifty existing QOL definitions and the identification of the common domains amongst them. Findings from this review revealed that the most common domains of QOL are the physiological, psychological, spiritual and socio-economic domains. The second phase was the validation of the above common domains identified from the examined QOL definitions to make them context specific to PLWHA who are on ART in Swaziland. A workshop was used to validate the domains with expert nurses involved in the care of PLWHA in Swaziland. The experts in ART care were trained on ART and had more than a year’s experience of working with PLWHA who are on ART. The validation process revealed that the essential context specific domains to consider when assessing QOL of PLWHA who are on ART are, (1) physiological domain, (2) psychological domain, (3) spiritual domain, (4) socio-economic domain, (5) cognitive domain, and (6) environmental domain. The process of validation of the domains was important as two extra domains were revealed, which were not initially recognised by the researcher during literature review.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanuel Tesfay ◽  
Abebe Gebremariam ◽  
Mulusew Gerbaba ◽  
Hailay Abrha

Background. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome measure for highly active antiretroviral treatment program. In Ethiopia, studies revealed that there are improved qualities of life among adults living with the viruses taking antiretroviral therapy but there is no explicit data showing gender differences in health related quality of life.Aim. To assess gender differences in HRQOL and its associated factors among people living with HIV and on highly active antiretroviral therapy in public health institutions of Mekelle town, Northern Ethiopia.Methods. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 adult people living with HIV taking ART services. Quality of life was measured using WHOQOL-HIV BREF.Result. There was a statistically significant gender difference (P<0.05) in HRQOL among PLHIV on HAART. Females had low score in all HRQOL domains. High perceived stigma was strongly associated with poor psychological quality of domain among both female and male groups with[AOR=2.89(1.69,4.96)]and[AOR=2.5(1.4,4.4)], respectively.Conclusion. There was statistically significant gender difference in all quality of life domains. Public health interventions to improve HRQOL of PLHIV should take in to account the physical, psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual health of PLHIV during treatment, care, and support.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 006-014
Author(s):  
Erni Setiyorini

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)is desease with high mortality and everyone have chancegot HIV. At Blitar HIV/AIDS prevalence increase since 2010. The incubation of HIV need long time tobecome AIDS. At this period PLWHA faced with physic, physichologic, sosial, environment problem andimpact to their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to describe quality of life PLWHA at physic,physichologic, sosial, environment dimension. Method: Research design was descriptive. Population ofthis study is PLWHA who receiving ARV at Cendana Clinic Ngudi Waluyo Wlingi Hospital. Samples 42respondent by using convenient sampling. Data collected at September 1st– 30, 2013 by questionaire.Result of this study in physic dimension much of them at good 16 peoples (38,1%), enough and less, eachof them 13 peoples (31%). Physhicology dimension at good and enough, each of them 20 peoples(47,6%) then at less 2 peoples (4,8%). Sosial dimension enough 25 peoples (59,5%), good 15 peoples(35,7%) and less 2 peoples (4,8%). Environment dimension enough 16 peoples (38,1%), good 15peoples (35,7%) dan kurang 11 orang (26,2%). It is suggested for nurse to implementation nursing careplan to PLWHA suitable with their quality of life dimension and enhance support to their sosial activity.


Author(s):  
Martina Treskova ◽  
Stefan Scholz ◽  
Alexander Kuhlmann ◽  
Jörg Mahlich ◽  
Matthias Stoll

AbstractHIV has become a chronic disease since widespread of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Understanding the influence of therapeutic and preventive interventions on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) is important. Information about health state utilities and HRQoL in PLWHA after the introduction of cART is limited, especially in Germany. The study aims to estimate and describe health state utilities and HRQoL in PLWHA in Germany and explore the effects of patient characteristics, clinical and treatment factors. Utilities and HRQoL in PLWHA in Germany were measured with the generic EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Health state utilities were calculated based on the EQ-5D descriptive system using the German EQ-5D-3L time trade-off (TTO) value set. HRQoL was calculated based on the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Extensive descriptive analyses were performed to represent utility values for different groups of the patients. Generalized linear models (GLMs) with beta-inflated distributions were used to determine patient characteristics and clinical factors that influence TTO utilities and VAS scores. 1056 PLWHA completed the EQ-5D-3L questionnaires at the beginning of the study. The mean TTO utility value is 0.912 (SD ± 0.154), and the mean VAS HRQoL is 84.32 (SD ± 18.55). “Anxiety/depression” and “pain/physical discomfort” are the most affected dimensions. A longer period of living with HIV, a lower CD4-cell count, having symptomatic HIV or AIDS and an increased number of changes in therapy are associated with decreased utilities and a lower probability of having HRQoL of perfect health. No significant effect of duration of regimen was found. Depression significantly decreases TTO utility values. Higher education, full-time employment and female gender are associated with higher utilities. The resulted EQ-VAS values for PLWHA in Germany are comparable with EQ-VAS estimates for the general population. The obtained estimates can be used as inputs for health economic evaluations of HIV-interventions. Addressing anxiety and depression may reduce the quality of life impairment in PLWHA. Impact of comorbidities needs further investigation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi Rüütel ◽  
Anneli Uusküla ◽  
Anastassia Minossenko ◽  
Helle-Mai Loit

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosinah Gabaitse

In this paper I seek to interrogate how the theology of some Pentecostal churches, especially the theology that God heals HIV and AIDS, interacts with the situation of cross-border migrants in Botswana. I also seek to discuss the Botswana HIV policy which denies HIV-positive cross-border migrants access to Anti-Retroviral treatment (henceforth ARVs) which has proven to prolong and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. Conflict exists between Botswana HIV policy on strict adherence to ARVs and some Pentecostal churches’ insistence that members of their churches living with HIV are healed by God, and therefore they should not take ARVs. While the Pentecostal Church is a ‘home away from home’ for migrants, their theology is in constant conflict and clashes with Botswana HIV health policy, even if the reality is that the same policy denies migrants access to HIV services. It is ironic that both the HIV policy and the Pentecostal theology are in pursuit of preserving life; yet, they both deny cross-border migrants that very life.


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