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Determinants of health-related quality of life in young adults living with perinatally acquired HIV infection in Botswana


Grace Karugaba
Gloria Thupayagale Tshweneagae
Mary M. Moleki
Onkabetse V. Mabikwa
Mogomotsi Matshaba

Abstract

Background: Due to the successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in Botswana, large numbers of perinatally HIV-infected adolescents are  emerging into young adulthood. Young adulthood is a critical period of human development. However, there is lack of information on the factors  affecting the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of young adults living with perinatally acquired HIV (YALPH) in Botswana.


Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the HRQOL and its determinants among YALPH who were enrolled on ART at Botswana-Baylor  Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence in Gaborone, Botswana.


Method: A cross-sectional study assessed the HRQOL of 509 YALPH aged 18–30 years using the WHOQOL-HIV BREF. Data about other variables of  interest were abstracted from medical records. Bivariate analyses were performed using t and Chi-square tests to determine the associations between  demographic and clinical variables and general HRQOL. The variables that were associated with the general HRQOL at P-value < 0.1 were included in the  multivariable analysis using the logistic regression approach.


Results: The majority of participants had good general HRQOL (78.4%). The highest mean  HRQOL score was in the Physical domain (5.4 [± 2.9]) and the lowest in the Environment domain (13.8 [± 2.7]). The factors that were significantly  associated with the general HRQOL included: level of education attained (P = 0.012), employment status (P = 0.069), viral load suppression (P = 0.073) and  self-reported illness (P = 0.001).


Conclusion: Interventions that effectively increase educational attainment, employment opportunities, ART adherence,  and prevention or management of illness are needed to promote good HRQOL among YALPH in Botswana.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2078-6751
print ISSN: 1608-9693