Quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS in Swaziland who are on antiretroviral therapy
Study done to assess the quality of life (QOL) of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Swaziland who are on ART.
The study revealed that PLWHA in Swaziland are faced with many challenges concerning ART, namely: inability to meet their nutrition needs, non-adherene to ART, experience of disfiguring side effects of ARVs, inconsistent condom use, experience stigma and discrimination, depression, difficulty in accepting and coping with ARVs, lowered self-esteem, a negative influence of some religions on ART, lack of financial support, poor support systems, poor understanding of ARVs, negative thoughts about HIV and AIDS and ART, an unsatisfactory health care delivery system, a negative influence of culture on ART, and violation of the rights of PLWHA. These challenges negatively influence the QOL of PLWHA and hence the study concluded that PLWHA in Swaziland who are on ART have a poor QOL.
