Yetnayet Abebe
Jimma University
Ethiopia
Title: Health related quality of life and associated factors among women on anti-retroviral therapy in health facilities of Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia: Across-sectional study
Biography
Biography: Yetnayet Abebe
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Studies across various countries indicate that health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is affected by socio-economic variables, biological and psychological factors. Poor adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is also another factor for compromised HRQoL among PLWHA. The studies also indicate women with HIV/AIDS are of poorer QoL life than their men counterparts though they are generally more adherent to ART and the same disease stages. This study examined the health related quality of life and its associated factors among HIV positive women receiving anti-retroviral therapy in Jimma Town health facilities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Consecutive sampling technique was employed to select HIV positive women who were on anti-retroviral therapy. Quality of life was measured using WHOQOL-BRIEF tool. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Associations between the quality of life and independents variables were reported. P-values <0.05 with 95% CI were set to determine statistical significance. Findings: The mean (±standard deviation) age of the respondents was 34.07(±8.76) years and 80.5% of them were urban dwellers. The proportion of women reporting good health related quality of life was found to be 46.5%. Specific to each domain, the mean (±standard deviation) of level of independence domain was the highest (14.08±3.07) followed by physical (13.46±2.95), social relationships (13.27±3.91), psychological (12.97±2.47), environmental (12.94±3.25)) and spiritual (12.39±2.84). Good social support (AOR: 4.99; 95% CI [2.88, 8.34]), higher wealth status (AOR: 1.85; 95%CI [1.02, 3.39]) and being on anti-retroviral therapy for shorter duration (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI [1.14, 3.03]) were independently associated with better overall health-related quality of life among the participants. Conclusions: The study demonstrated higher proportion of HIV positive women on ART had poor health related quality of life which was affected by wealth index, social support and duration on ART.