The Quality of Life for People Living with HIV in Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background: A total of 7,331.0 HIV/AIDS cases were reported in Saudi Arabia from 1984 to
2001 of which 21.30% of the HIV cases were reported in Saudi citizens [1]. The latest report on
HIV cases revealed that a total of 10,217 new HIV cases in Saudi kingdom were reported
between 2000 and 2009 [1]. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of Life for
people living with HIV in Saudi Arabia. It also determined the effect of HIV and AIDS on the
quality of life (QoL) in Saudi Arabia. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a main public
health, economic, and social problem resulting in stigma, morbidity, and mortality. As HIV
evolves to a chronic and terminal disease, the quality of life of people living with HIV in Saudi
Arabia becomes an important and prominent patient reported outcome measure in HIV/AIDS
care among people living with HIV. Literature explores impacts of HIV and AIDS on the quality
of life for people living with HIV as well as diverse factors or determinants that influence the
quality of life (QoL) for People Living with HIV; however, currently no studies exists about the
Quality of Life for People Living with HIV in Saudi Arabia. Thus, in this study an up-to-date
and evidence-based overview of the quality of life (QoL) for people living with HIV in Saudi
Arabia.
Methods: All the research studies published between 2013 and 2016 that evaluates or examines
the quality of life for people living with HIV in different nations, were considered in this
narrative study. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science were consulted using the
keywords "quality of life", ‘HIV’ /‘AIDS", "Saudi Arabia". For inclusion criteria, research
studies must have reported mental or physical health and general health scores of people living
with HIV on a validated tool and conducted multivariable regression analyses to examine the
quality of life for people living with HIV using the HRQoL instrument.
Results: A total of 35 studies were included and analyzed in this review. Furthermore, the
studies include and they used a variety of quality of life (QoL) or HRQoL tools. Medical
Outcomes variants or determinants , Medical Outcomes Study-HIV, Multi-dimensional QoL
Questionnaire, Services Utilization and HIV Cost Study measure, HIV/AIDS targeted QoL
instruments, Practical Assessment of Infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, evaluation of
effect of HIV and AIDS on the quality of life (QoL), Overview of HIV Problems Assessment
System, Fanning Quality of Life scale, EuroQol, PRO-QOL-HIV and Health Index. The
determinants examined in this reviewwere thematically divided into psychosocial aspects of life
including medical care, the mental health and social relationships as well as behavioral or
psychological factors. Psychosocial aspects of life such as medical care, the mental health and
social relationships, social or health status, depression, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and
social support were most consistently and most frequently reported to be related with quality of
life (QoL) among individuals living with HIV.
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