PURPOSE: To increase understanding of the meaning of quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design and convenience sample, we administered a survey and collected data on demographic characteristics, measures of severity of illness, and perceptions of quality of life. The purposefully selected sample (N=743) consisted of community-based people living with HIV/AIDS in 2002. Based on the Wilson and Cleary framework for organizing variables related to quality of life, a hierarchical multiple regression was conducted with quality of life as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The sample of 743 persons was 61.2% female with a mean age of 34 years. Approximately 62 % of the sample reported having received an AIDS diagnosis. Ten predictor variables explained 53.2 % of the variance in life satisfaction. Those participants with higher life satisfaction scores were less educated, had worries about disclosure and finances, did not have an AIDS diagnosis or other comorbid conditions, had lower symptom intensity, had greater functioning, and had fewer health worries. None of these participants was taking antiretroviral medications at the time of this study. CONCLUSIONS: Several dimensions of the Wilson and Cleary model of quality of life were significantly related to life satisfaction for people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Quality of life for this sample was primarily defined as overall functional ability and control over symptom intensity. These findings are similar to studies in developed countries that have shown the significant relationships among functional abilities, symptom control, and perceived quality of life. As antiretroviral medications become more available in these areas, community members and care providers can help clients realize the possibility of living well with HIV/AIDS, and can work with clients to improve functional ability and control symptom intensity to make living well a reality.
PURPOSE: To increase understanding of the meaning of quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design and convenience sample, we administered a survey and collected data on demographic characteristics, measures of severity of illness, and perceptions of quality of life. The purposefully selected sample (N=743) consisted of community-based people living with HIV/AIDS in 2002. Based on the Wilson and Cleary framework for organizing variables related to quality of life, a hierarchical multiple regression was conducted with quality of life as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The sample of 743 persons was 61.2% female with a mean age of 34 years. Approximately 62 % of the sample reported having received an AIDS diagnosis. Ten predictor variables explained 53.2 % of the variance in life satisfaction. Those participants with higher life satisfaction scores were less educated, had worries about disclosure and finances, did not have an AIDS diagnosis or other comorbid conditions, had lower symptom intensity, had greater functioning, and had fewer health worries. None of these participants was taking antiretroviral medications at the time of this study. CONCLUSIONS: Several dimensions of the Wilson and Cleary model of quality of life were significantly related to life satisfaction for people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Quality of life for this sample was primarily defined as overall functional ability and control over symptom intensity. These findings are similar to studies in developed countries that have shown the significant relationships among functional abilities, symptom control, and perceived quality of life. As antiretroviral medications become more available in these areas, community members and care providers can help clients realize the possibility of living well with HIV/AIDS, and can work with clients to improve functional ability and control symptom intensity to make living well a reality.
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Authors: Lucy N Makoae; Carmen J Portillo; Leana R Uys; Priscilla S Dlamini; Minrie Greeff; Maureen Chirwa; Thecla W Kohi; Joanne Naidoo; Joseph Mullan; Dean Wantland; Kevin Durrheim; William L Holzemer Journal: AIDS Care Date: 2009-11
Authors: F Xavier Gómez-Olivé; Margaret Thorogood; Benjamin D Clark; Kathleen Kahn; Stephen M Tollman Journal: Glob Health Action Date: 2010-09-27 Impact factor: 2.640
Authors: Quynh T Vo; Susie Hoffman; Denis Nash; Wafaa M El-Sadr; Olga A Tymejczyk; Tsigereda Gadisa; Zenebe Melaku; Sarah G Kulkarni; Robert H Remien; Batya Elul Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2016-08
Authors: Priscilla S Dlamini; Dean Wantland; Lucy N Makoae; Maureen Chirwa; Thecla W Kohi; Minrie Greeff; Joanne Naidoo; Joseph Mullan; Leana R Uys; William L Holzemer Journal: AIDS Patient Care STDS Date: 2009-05 Impact factor: 5.078