Quality of life and needs assessment on people living with HIV and Aids in Malawi

Bibliographic Data

ID19439746
AuthorsAngela Fan (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Angela Pei-Chen Fan (National Yang Ming University), Huai-Ching Claire Kuo (National Yang Ming University), Diana Kao (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Diana Yu-Ting Kao (c AIDS Prevention and Research Center , National Yang-Ming University , Taipei , Taiwan), Donald E Morisky (0000-0003-1338-2231, University of California, Los Angeles), Yi-Ming Arthur Chen (National Yang Ming University), Yi‐Ming Arthur Chen (0000-0002-6068-4964, National Yang Ming University Hospital, corresponding author)
Year2011
Volume23
Issue3
Pages287-302
Publication date2011-03-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2010.507742
PMID21347892
OpenAlexW2063785371
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited31

PURPOSE: Malawi is a sub-Saharan African nation with a severe HIV epidemic. The quality of life (QoL) has never been investigated among people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Malawi. This study examines the QoL and associated factors including life needs among PLWHA at different stages of their illness in the northern region of Malawi. METHODS: Survey analysis of consecutive outpatient participants receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy at the Rainbow Clinic and non-HIV patients receiving care at the affiliated Mzuzu Central Hospital during a one-month period was performed. Laboratory testing and clinical diagnosis were used to determine HIV status, determine CD4 count, and classify WHO clinical stage. A total of 267 HIV-infected patients and 598 non-HIV participants completed a needs assessment and a Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, which contained a QoL subscale. SF-36 subscales and needs assessment scores were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA test, and Generalized Linear Model-Tukey's test. RESULTS: HIV-positive patients had significantly lower physical functioning (p=0.0365), mental health (p=0.001), social functioning (p<0.0001), and mental component summary (p=0.0069) scores than HIV-negative patients. Further, WHO Stage III HIV patients had significantly lower vitality (p=0.0439) and mental health (p=0.0022) scores than WHO Stages I and II patients; and WHO Stage IV patients had significantly lower vitality (p=0.0015), mental health (p=0.0006), and physical component summary (p=0.0443) scores than WHO Stages I and II patients. Finally, AIDS patients, as determined by CD4 count, had significantly lower bodily pain (p=0.0423) and physical component summary (p=0.0148) scores than non-AIDS, HIV-positive patients. CONCLUSION: HIV patients undergoing treatment in Malawi have a significantly lower QoL, both mentally and physically, than their non-HIV counterparts. Further, HIV patients at more advanced stages, both by the WHO definition and by CD4 count, have a significantly lower QoL than HIV patients at earlier stages of the disease

Mental health · Outpatient clinic · Psychiatry · Vitality · HIV Research and Treatment · HIV-related health complications and treatments · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Gerontology · Immunology · Internal Medicine

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