Quality of life in women with symptomatic HIV/AIDS

Despite the increasing incidence of cases of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection and of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in women, there is a serious lack of information about those women's quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this exploratory descriptive study was to describe C lot using an HIV-specific instrument (the HOPES) every 2 months over a 4-mo nth period in a convenience sample of 44 women with symptomatic HIV/AIDS. C hanges in physical, psychological, social, sexual dimensions, and overall Q oL were evaluated along with the frequency of the most prevalent distressin g items. The mean scores of the global QoL, physical and psyche-social summ ary scales were significantly different over the 4-month data collection pe riod: quality of life improved. The most prevalent disruptions were in the psyche-social domain, including financial problems, worry about the family, distress about losing others from HIV, and worry about disease progression . The most prevalent physical disruptions included reduction in energy, dif ficulties with daily activities and frequent pain. Married women appeared t o be more vulnerable to disruptions in QoL over time. In addition to the us e of conventional disease-specific parameters for the ongoing follow-up of women with HIV/AIDS, the systematic use of a QoL assessment can provide a f ocused approach to monitoring problems and targeting interventions. Such an approach is especially important for nurses who assist women living with t he symptoms of HIV/AIDS.