Antiretroviral therapy (ART) affords longevity to patients infected with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV). Since little is known about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons who have been on ART for at least five years, the present study investigated the HRQoL of these patients in Botswana.
Medical records, structured interviews, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQoL–HIV–BREF) instrument were employed to obtain information from 456 respondents.
Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that respondents' highest scores were in the “physical” domain (mean = 15.8, SD = 3.5), while the lowest scores were in the “environment” domain (mean = 12.9, SD = 2.5). Thus, the physical domain had the greatest impact on patients' overall HRQoL. Self-education about HIV-related issues was significantly correlated with all domains of HRQoL scores: physical (ρ = –2.32, CI 95% = –3.02, –1.61); psychological (ρ = –2.26, CI 95% = –2.87, –1.65); independence (ρ = –1.81, CI 95% = –2.54, –1.06); social relationships (ρ = –1.40, CI 95% = –2.13, –0.67); environment (ρ = –1.58, CI 95% = –2.13, –1.04); and spirituality (ρ = –1.70, CI 95% = –82.27, –1.13).
HRQoL assessments can identify and address patients' needs, and it is important that guidelines be developed that will yield improved care to ART patients in Botswana.