ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN ONDO STATE

Abstract

HIV/AIDS, a pandemic disease which is certainly the defining public health crises of our time, with invent of antiretroviral therapy has been converted from a fatal condition to a chronic manageable disease thereby enabling people living with HIV/AIDS to live longer. Hence, it is paramount to assess their quality of life. This study aims to assess the quality of life of PLWHA in Ondo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study comprising of 307 consenting with 18 years and above selected in five health facilities chosen from the LGA of each senatorial district in Ondo State was carried out. Descriptive statistics mainly mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics mainly T-test, Chi square and linear regression were applied for data analysis and the level of significance was set at p< 0.05. RESULT: Female respondent were 82.4% of the respondent were females, the overall mean age of all respondents was 40.6± 8.9 years. Majority had secondary education. Respondents who are married and living together with their sexual partners as at the time of interview were 69.2%. Respondents who are employed were 71.9%. Out of which 77.2% earns low monthly income. The mean SD scores of physical, social relationship, environmental, spiritual/ religion, level of independence, and psychological domains were 16.22± 3.40, 15.95± 3.19, 15.81± 2.64, 15.61 ± 3.12, 14.78± 2.96 and 14.13±3.10 respectively. The male respondents had better mean QOL scores in the level of independents, (P= 0.027). The respondents who were more educated had a significantly better mean QOL score in the level of independence domain. Patients who were married had significant better mean QOL scores in the psychological and social relationship domains (p= 0.029 and 0.019 respectively). Bivariate analysis revealed that the overall perception of QOL was better in patients with high CD4 cells count, employed individuals, asymptomatic, obese, and those who earned high monthly income. Respondents with TB-coinfections had significantly low mean QOL scores in the physical and psychological domains (p= 0.047 and 0.035 respectively). Asymptomatic patients had significantly better QOL score than the symptomatic patients in the psychological domain. Respondents who have high blood pressure had significantly low QOL life in the level of independence -(p= 0.006). In addition, patients who have been on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy for a longer time had better QOL. Better QOL in the physical, social relationship and environment domain is an indication that PLWHA have free access to quality health care, social support, good social and personal relationship absence of stigma and discrimination. Free accessibility and availability of ART should be put in place for PLWHA, in order to maintain their asymptomatic status. Furthermore, support in terms of employment, financial assistant, financial self-sufficiency should be rendered to PLWHA in order to enhance their QOL.