Quality of Life Among People Living with HIV/AIDS under Antiretroviral Therapy in Kaski District of Nepal

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the association of the HIV/AIDS on the quality of life of the infected individuals in kaski district of Nepal. A cross-sectional study was done among 268 individuals attending antiretroviral therapy in ART center in Western regional hospital. Quality of life was evaluated with the help of World Health Organization Quality of life questionnaire (WHO QOL- HIV-BREF). SPSS version 16 was used for the data analysis. PLWHA in Nepal were having the poor quality of life in psychological domain of QOL. Marital status (p-value 0.007), being employed (p-value 0.002), taking self-care (p-value <0.001), CD4 count (p-value 0.040) were the predictors for having the good QOL in PLWHA. Being old age, unemployed, low CD4 count were associated with the low QOL. Lowest score in the psychological domain suggesting the need of the psychological interventions such as to decrease the discrimination and attitude towards PLWHA.