Quality of life and associated factors in people living with HIV/AIDS

Objective: To evaluate quality of life and the associated factors in people living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 146 people with HIV, receiving outpatient treatment. The instruments used were: a questionnaire for socioeconomic, demographic, epidemiological and clinical evaluation and the WHOQOL-HIV BREF scale for the quality of life evaluation. A descriptive analysis and a stepwise forward multiple linear regression test were performed. Results: There was a predominance of male gender, lower educational level, and people who were asymptomatic. The Level of Independence and Environment domains had the worst scores. Having a paid occupation, the income per capita, having a religion, a longer time since diagnosis, and adherence to treatment were positively associated with quality of life. A homo-affective relationship, having been stigmatized or suffered prejudice, the presence of psychosocial symptoms, and having acquired opportunistic infections were predictors associated with a poorer quality of life. Conclusion: Quality of life had associated predictors and compromise in two areas of the scale.