Publication Cover
AIDS Care
Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 22, 2010 - Issue 6
640
Views
25
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS in Lebanon

, , , &
Pages 687-696 | Received 23 Jun 2009, Published online: 11 May 2010
 

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of HIV/AIDS on the quality of life (QoL) in Lebanese adult patients living with HIV/AIDS. The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey, using self-administered questionnaires. A convenience sample of 41 Lebanese adults (aged 18 years and above) living with HIV/AIDS was recruited from outpatient departments at two major medical centers in Lebanon. The instruments included the Multidimensional Quality of Life HIV (MQoL-HIV), the HIV Symptom Index and a stigma scale, and a demographic section. The majority of the sample were male and single. The mean age was 38 years (SD=9.93). The mean MQoL-HIV score was 176.85, with the highest scores for the cognitive functioning, social functioning, and medical care; the lowest domain scores were for financial status, sexual functioning, and mental health. A single item measuring overall QoL was rated by 47.5% as neither poor nor good. Mean stigma score was 2.05 (SD=0.62) and mean HIV Symptom Index score was 0.6. Prevalence of symptoms and perceived stigma were negative predictors of QoL, being married was a positive predictor of QoL. The results of this study, which is the first to look at the QoL in people living with HIV/AIDS in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa region, showed that these mostly asymptomatic well-functioning individuals reported a fair level of QoL. The strongest determinants of QoL revolved around psychosocial aspects of life, namely social relationships, mental health, and medical care.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Souha Kanj Sharara, Dr Ghassan Awar, Ms Dina Martinos, and Mr Khaldoun Abou Assi for their assistance in different ways during the study process, and more importantly, we would like to thank all the patients who participated in this study.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.