title: Quality of life among HIV-infected children in Thailand.
abstract: The aim of the study was to measure quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. This is a cross-sectional study among main caregivers of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. The questionnaire consisted of 5 main domains: general health, physical functioning, symptoms, psychological well being, and social and role functioning. A total of 131 main caregivers (21% males, average age 42.5 years) of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children (28% male, average age 10.1 years) answered the questionnaires. Four out of 5 domains showed that children without immune suppression had a significantly higher quality of life than children with immune suppression. There was a significant correlation between health care utility and physical functioning, symptoms, and social and role functioning. The instrument had acceptable internal consistency and was a feasible measure of quality of life among human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. The information obtained will enable health care providers to establish comprehensive health care services to serve the needs of these children and their families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. aoberdor@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Peninnah
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oberdorfer
authors.forename: Orawan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Louthrenoo
authors.forename: Thanyawee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Puthanakit
authors.forename: Virat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sirisanthana
authors.forename: Thira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sirisanthana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult