Association of Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors on Health-Related Quality Of Life of Children Living with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30442/Keywords:
Children living with HIV, HRQOL, PedsQL inventory, Psychologic distressAbstract
Background: Children living with the human immunodeficiency virus (CLHIV) now survive well into adolescence and adulthood due to the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy. Hence health outcomes of interest now include their quality of life and factors that may affect it.
Objectives: To determine the relationship between HRQOL of children with HIV and socio-demographic/clinical factors. To identify the association between psychological distress in the caregiver and caregiver’s reported HRQOL of the children.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. One hundred CLHIV and their caregivers were studied. A general questionnaire was used to obtain information on social demographics and medical history. Participant’s HRQOL was determined using the PedsQL inventory version 4.0. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to screen for presence of psychological distress in caregivers.
Results: Age and sex did not significantly affect the HRQOL, however Socio-economic class significantly affected the HRQOL as children of caregivers in the upper socio-economic class (I-III) had higher mean composite HRQOL scores compared to those in the lower socioeconomic class (IV-V) for the parent report. (88.08±11.65 v 78.71±23.69; p value <0.017). Being an Orphan significantly affected the HRQOL of the children for the parent report as the parent reported a lower HRQOL for these children (81.79+17.73 v 88.20+12.68; p value 0.046).
Psychological distress was present in 23% of the caregivers. However, the HRQOL score was similar between children whose parents had reported psychological distress and those who did not.
Conclusion: Socioeconomic class and orphan status were significantly associated with the HRQOL of CLHIV.
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