Abstract:
Background: Combination antiretroviral therapy has substantially increased life-expectancy in
people living with HIV. However, people living with HIV have significantly lower Health
Related Quality of Life than do the general population, even among viro logically and
immunologically stable patients. Evidences revealed that there is statistically significant gender
difference in Health-Related Quality of Life among People Living with HIV on highly active
antiretroviral treatment; Women have low score in all HRQOL (Health-Related Quality of Life)
domains than men. Despite this, studies done in Ethiopia so far were done on general population
and gave less attention to quality of life among women.
Objectives: to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life and associated factors among women
on Antiretroviral Therapy in Ambo Town, West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2020/21.
Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among women on ART in
Ambo Town from July-September, 2021. 420 women on ART were included using systematic
random sampling technique. Data were collected using face to face interview and chart review
using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to show the background variables
with graphs, texts and figures. The study was also employ binary logistic regression to identify
the factors associated with health-related quality of life using odds ratios with their respective
confidence intervals and p values. P-value of 0.05 was the cut-off point to declare statistical
significance.
Results: A total of 420 women on ART were included in the study. The proportion of women
with good quality of life was found to be 39.3%; 95% CI [34.6%, 44.0%]. Not depressed [AOR
= 2.27; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.79], better social support [AOR = 2. 32; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.00] were
positively associated with good health-related quality of life. WHO baseline clinical stage two
[AOR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.93] were found to be negatively associated with good health
related quality of life.
Conclusion: this study revealed that a small proportion of women on ART (less than four in ten)
39.3% had good quality of life. Depression, social support and WHO clinical stage were the
factors associated with health-related quality of life. Therefore, early detection and treatment of
depression and improving social support is very important to curb the problem
