Quality of Life of Women living with HIV and AIDS in Korogocho Slums, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Since HIV/AIDS was reported in Kenya the country has been and continues to be impacted negatively in all sectors. Despite Government’s intervention initiatives to mitigate the impact, patients continue to succumb to this condition. The main objective of this study was to assess the factors that affect on the Quality of Life among HIV and AIDS positive women in Korogocho Slums.

Methods: This study employed an exploratory design. Quality of Life was evaluated using several items which employed a Likert2type five2point scale. These items were distributed in four domains: Physical health and level of independence; Psychological well2being; Social relationships and environment. The domain scores scaled in a positive direction – higher scores denoted higher quality of life and vice versa. Structured interviews were used to collect quantitative data while in2depth interviews were used to collect qualitative information.

Results: A total of 83 female patients were interviewed in this study. Only 31% reported that they were restricted by physical pain to go about their business. As high as 70% of the respondents reported that they did not get enough support from relatives and friends. Eighty percent reported that they were not satisfied with their sex life and 37% reported that the environment they lived in was unhealthy. This study reported a low quality of life of 53% among the respondents.

Recommendations: Clinicians and health practitioners in their interaction with women with HIV and AIDS to consider involving them in their health decision making since they are the owners of their bodies who continuously listen to the manifestation of the condition in order to improve health care outcomes.