Assessment of Quality of Life among HIV-Infected Persons in Pune, India

• Published in: Quality of life research Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 1641 - 1647
• Main Authors: Kohli, Rewa M, Sane, Suvarna, Kumar, Kishore, Paranjape, Ramesh S, Mehendale, Sanjay M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Springer 01.08.2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; AIDS; Appetite; Brief Communications; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Disease Progression; Drug therapy; Emotions; Employment; Female; Health care outcome assessment; HIV; HIV infections; HIV Infections - pathology; HIV Infections - psychology; HIV Infections - virology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human sexual behavior; Humans; India; Interpersonal Relations; Linear Models; Male; Medical research; Men; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Physical health; Prospective Studies; Psychometrics - instrumentation; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Risk-Taking; Sickness Impact Profile; Socioeconomic Factors; Viral Load; India
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-004-7082-8

Objective: To study dimensions of Quality of Life (QOL) amongst HIV infected persons, their relationship with socio-demographic characteristics and disease progression. Design: Cross-sectional study with one time assessment of QOL. Methods: Modified Medical Outcome Study (MOS) core instrument [The Medical Outcome Study 116 core set of Measures of functioning and well being, Appendix A, core survey instrument (internet)] was interview -administered to 100 HIV infected individuals. Results: The instrument showed significant positive inter-domain correlations and desired linear association between QOL scores and the CD4 counts. The scale had a Cronbach α value of 0.75. QOL was markedly affected in the domains of physical health, work and earnings, routine activities and appetite and food intake. Women had significantly lower QOL scores than men despite having less advanced disease. The QOL scores were significantly lower among persons with lower CD4 counts mainly in different domains of physical health. Conclusions: The modified MOS scale had the desired reliability and validity for evaluation of QOL in the HIV-infected persons in India. Low scores in the domains of physical health compared to other domains suggest a strategy to focus on medical intervention. A need for psychosocial intervention for women was perceived. Longitudinal studies must be done to assess the impact of anti-retroviral therapy being rolled out through the national programme on QOL.