title: Factors that affect the quality of life of prison inmates on antiretroviral treatment.
abstract: Quality of life (QoL) is one of the most commonly used self-assessment outcome measures in chronic disease. The prison environment has specific characteristics that may affect antiretroviral treatment and adherence in HIV-positive patients. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the association between several factors and QoL in inmates on antiretroviral treatment in three Andalusian prisons. A total of 160 patients on antiretroviral treatment was enrolled. QoL was measured by means of the MOS-HIV. Of the sample, 88% were men and, of these, 53.8% were considered adherent to treatment. In the multivariate analysis, inmates who were considered adherent, who had a higher educational level, who did not receive food supplements and who were prescribed a greater number of pills were found to have a better physical and mental QoL. Likewise, those who felt unable or scarcely able to continue the treatment and who had been drug abusers for a longer time presented a lower physical QoL. Regarding mental QoL, those without a fixed abode, with difficulties in treatment or chronic disease had lower scores.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Area, Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain. isabel.ruiz.easp@juntadeandalucia.es
authors.forename: I Ruiz
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soto Blanco
authors.forename: A Olry
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: De Labry Lima
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Castro Recio
authors.forename: E Gireld
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: J J Anton
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Basanta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plazaola Castaño
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011330:Prisons; D011788:Quality of Life; D013030:Spain