Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: February | Volume: 4 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 1-6
Gender Differentials in Quality of Life Domains of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS: a Cross Sectional Study in South India
Sudhir1, Deepa K2,Ashok N.C3, Murali Dhar4
1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya.
2Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore.
3Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, J.S.S Medical College, Mysore.
4Assistant Professor (Biostatistics), Department of Statistics, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
Corresponding Author: Sudhir
ABSTRACT
Background: With the changing face of HIV into a chronic disease, quality of life research is of importance. Much of the previous research in this area has not included females in the samples. Women with HIV are becoming greater in number and are of increased concern to those involved in HIV surveillance.
Objective: To study gender related differences in QoL domains of patients living with HIV/AIDS.
Methodology: This cross sectional study was done in 255 HIV/AIDS patients at an ART centre of tertiary care Hospital, Mysore. Out of 255 patients 139 were male and 116 were female. WHO-QOL-BREF a summarized quality of life questionnaire was used to assess the Quality of life and various domains included for comparison were physical domain, psychological domain, social domain and environmental domain. Statistical analysis was done using SYSTAT 13 software. To test the significance, t test was applied.
Results: Out of 255 patients, 139 were men and 116 were women, most of the men patients were married (74.8%) and most of the women patients were widowed (48.3%). Employment status was better in men (92.8%) than in women (54.3%). Mean CD4 count was 315.7 for men and 376.1 was for women patients but mean QoL score for men was 53.8 and that for women was 50.8. Out of the four domains of QoL, men patients had better score in social and environmental domains.
Conclusion: The infection by the HIV in women deserves special attention, due to the high rate of incidence found over the last few years and the inequalities suffered regarding the socioeconomic, educational and gender contexts, which strengthen several aspects that may influence the QoL. Therefore, the evaluation of the quality of life of women with HIV/AIDS may contribute to the orientation of actions and interventions of health professionals, as well as public policies to promote the quality of life of this population.
Key words: Quality of Life; CD4; ART; HIV/AIDS; Gender