Quality of Life of Women of Childbearing Age Living with HIV/AIDS in Selected Hospitals in North Central and South Western Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is associated with high morbidity and mortality and can reduce  quality of life.  Improvement of the quality of life of women living with HIV  could  prevent  associated complications and reduce mortality.  This study assessed quality of life of women of childbearing age living with HIV/AIDS in selected hospitals in North-central and South-Western Nigeria.

Methods: The study adopted descriptive cross-sectional design. Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin and Oyo State Hospital, Ogbomoso were purposively selected and a total of 320 women were recruited randomly from both hospitals. Data were collected with the use of WHOQOL-HIV BREF questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was statistically determined using the test retest method.

Findings:  Mean age was 34.8 ± 7.3 years. Majority (70 %), were married, had secondary education (72%) and were petty traders (69.7%).  Also, high mean scores was observed in all the domains of quality of life with the highest scores in the physical, level of independence and psychological domains, but lowest score in spiritual domain.

Conclusion: There is need for improvement in the social relation, environmental and spiritual health domains. Intense awareness campaigns against discrimination and stigmatization of women with HIV/AIDS should be organized and burdensome policies reviewed.