Publication: Quality of Life Among HIV Positive Individuals in Kathmandu Valley and Eastern Region of Nepal
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Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
The alarming increase of HIV/AIDS, inability to afford highly active anti-retroviral
therapy, disability and stigma associated with the disease, loss of productivity due to
illness, and chronic nature of the disease has made HIV/AIDS one of the most important
public health problems in developing countries. The Quality of life assessment is
focused on humanistic element and intervention resulting from this result may lead to
better overall patient well being.
Objective
The aim of our study was to assess and compare the quality of life among HIV positive
individuals in Kathmandu Valley & Eastern region.
Methods
The study was conducted among 228 HIV positive individuals from Eastern Nepal and
213 from Kathmandu valley and they were compared with an equal number of age-sex
matched controls from the community. The instrument used was the WHO QOL-BREF
Nepali questionnaire.
Results
The HIV positive individuals had significantly lower (P<0.001) QOL scores than the
controls in the overall QOL and all the domains of life: Physical, Psychological, Social
and Environmental. HIV positive individuals from Kathmandu valley scored significantly
better (P<0.001) scores in the Physical and Environmental domains when compared to
HIV positive individuals from Eastern region. HIV positive females had a significantly
higher (P<0.02) QOL scores for overall QOL and overall perception of health than the
males.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that HIV positive individuals have a poorer quality of life than the
general population in Kathmandu valley & Eastern region of Nepal and interventions
could be targeted to improve this aspect of their health.
KEY WORDS
HIV/AIDS, QOL, NEPAL, WHO QOL-BREF
Description
Agrawal H,1 Mourya R,1 Shrestha RK,2 Agrawal S3
1MBBS Final Year Student
2Department of Medicine
3Department of Dermatology & Venereology
B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan Nepal