title: Social, Psychological and Health Concerns of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Mysore District, Karnataka.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the significant health and social problem the world facing today is Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AiDS). The patients affected with HIV and their family may face various psychosocial problems during diagnosis and treatment due to the stigma associated with this disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to identify social, psychological and health concerns of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and its association with the demographic factors in Mysore District, Karnataka, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire based study was conducted among 194 participants in Mysore District, Karnataka state who were receiving care and support services. A 22-item questionnaire provided information regarding social, psychological and health concerns of PLWHA in Mysore district. A general linear regression model was used for assessing the predictors of social, psychological and health concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main social concern was that of "Fear of Losing a loved one" whereas the main psychological concern was "Too much worry", "No cure for AIDS" was the highly rated health concern. Males had more social, psychological and health concerns when compared to females but was not statistically significant. Employed people were having fewer psychological concerns when compared to unemployed people. Unemployed people were having fewer health concerns than employed people. For every unit increase in age there were fewer social and health concerns and both these findings were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PLWHA in the present study reported that they were concerned about social, psychological and health issues in spite of the fact they were attending counseling. Health care workers, including those in public health sector should be educated about the importance of these factors that influence the health of the population they are caring for.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences , Tiruvalla, India .
authors.forename: Shibu Thomas
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sebastian
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, JSS Dental College and Hospital , Mysore, India .
authors.forename: Sunitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siddanna
keywords: Acquired immune defeciency; Health issues; Psychological issues; Social issues; Syndrome