title: Gender differences in health related quality of life among people living with HIV on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Mekelle Town, Northern Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome measure for highly active antiretroviral treatment program. In Ethiopia, studies revealed that there are improved qualities of life among adults living with the viruses taking antiretroviral therapy but there is no explicit data showing gender differences in health related quality of life. Aim. To assess gender differences in HRQOL and its associated factors among people living with HIV and on highly active antiretroviral therapy in public health institutions of Mekelle town, Northern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 adult people living with HIV taking ART services. Quality of life was measured using WHOQOL-HIV BREF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant gender difference (P < 0.05) in HRQOL among PLHIV on HAART. Females had low score in all HRQOL domains. High perceived stigma was strongly associated with poor psychological quality of domain among both female and male groups with [AOR = 2.89(1.69,4.96)] and [AOR = 2.5(1.4,4.4)], respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was statistically significant gender difference in all quality of life domains. Public health interventions to improve HRQOL of PLHIV should take in to account the physical, psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual health of PLHIV during treatment, care, and support.
authors: Department of Population and Family Health, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box 2080, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Amanuel
authors: A
authors: Tesfay
authors: Department of Population and Family Health, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box 2080, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Abebe
authors: A
authors: Gebremariam
authors: Department of Population and Family Health, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box 2080, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Mulusew
authors: 0000-0002-0383-7012
authors: M
authors: Gerbaba
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box 2080, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Hailay
authors: H
authors: Abrha
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003710:Demography; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014944:World Health Organization
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