Living with HIV in New Zealand: balancing health and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
This paper characterises the health and wellbeing of HIV-positive people in New Zealand.


METHODS
The HIV Futures New Zealand Survey is a self-complete anonymous questionnaire distributed in a variety of ways. Data were collected on health, clinical, and social variables.


RESULTS
There were 226 responses, estimated to be approximately 25% of the HIV positive population. Respondents were aged between 18 and 68, and 56% were homosexual men. Most (68%) reported a viral load on most recent test of below 500 copies/mL and 59% had a CD4 lymphocyte count on most recent test of over 250 cells/mcL. However, 28% reported a major health condition in addition to HIV and 21% had a mental health condition. Most respondents (64%) were currently using antiretroviral therapy. Many (84%) knew other people with HIV and had contact with an HIV/AIDS organisation (77%). Forty-two percent of respondents had stopped working because of HIV, and 47% reported their main source of income as a Government benefit.


CONCLUSIONS
This research has demonstrated that, while the HIV-positive population of New Zealand generally has improved health as a result of antiretroviral therapy, there are still significant social and economic barriers to their quality of life.
Grierson
Jeffrey
J
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Pitts
Marian
M
Whyte
Matt
M
Misson
Sebastian
S
Hughes
Anthony
A
Saxton
Peter
P
Thomas
Mark G
MG
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents