title: Quality of life of Nigerians living with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few reports from Nigeria have examined the quality of life (QOL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) despite the fact that Nigeria has the second largest number of PLWHA in the world. This study evaluated the QOL of Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire for HIV-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument and assessed the impact of demographic, laboratory and disease-related variables on QOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study involved 491 consecutive PLWHA aged ≥ 18 years attending the dedicated clinic to PLWHA in South-west Nigeria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lowest mean QOL scores were recorded in the environment and social domains. Participants aged ≥ 40 years had better QOL in the environment (p = 0.039) and spirituality (p = 0.033) domains and those in relationships had better QOL in the social relationship domain (p = 0.002). Subjects with no or primary education and those who rated their health status as good gave significantly higher ratings in all QOL domains. Participants with AIDS had significant lower QOL in the level of independence domain (p = 0.018) and those with CD4 count ≥ 350 cells /mm3 had better QOL scores in the physical, psychological and level of independence domains. Subjects without tuberculosis co-infection and those on antiretroviral therapy (ART) reported significantly better QOL in the physical, psychological, level of independence and spirituality domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marital relationship, absence of tuberculosis, CD4 count ≥ 350 cells /mm3 and use of ART positively impacted QOL of our patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adeolu Oladayo
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Akinboro
authors.affiliation: People Living with HIV/AIDS Clinic, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Suliat Omolola
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Akinyemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo.
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Olaitan
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo.
authors.forename: Ajani Adeniyi
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Raji
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
authors.forename: Adetoun Adetayo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Popoola
authors.affiliation: People Living with HIV/AIDS Clinic, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Opeyemi Roseline
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Awoyemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olugbenga Edward
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Ayodele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus; Nigeria; Quality of life (QOL); acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); people living with HIV/AIDS