Quality of life and its correlation with violence and social support among women with HIV/AIDS in Shiraz, Iran, in 2015

Background: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal viral disease which can affect the patient’s immune system and render the patient susceptible to opportunistic infections. In recent years, the number of women with HIV acquired through sexual transmission has increased. Therefore, due to the importance of quality of life (QOL) among these women and the impact of violence and social support on their QOL, this study can assist in the recognition of effective factors on QOL of these patients. Materials and Methods: The study population of this descriptive study consisted of all patients with Human immunodeficiency virus infection/AIDS (HIV/AIDS) who had medical records at the Behavioral Disorders Counseling Center of Shiraz, Iran. To assess QOL, violence, and social support among these patients, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) scale and the Domestic Violence Questionnaire (DVQ) plus Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) were used. The collected data were analyzed using Independent two-sample t-test, ANOVA, and correlations. Results: The QOL and SSQ scores of single individuals were higher compared to other groups and violence was lower in this group. The QOL and SSQ scores of residents of rural areas were lower compared to residents of urban areas. Moreover, the violence score of this group was higher. The QOL and SSQ scores of individuals with higher educational level and better economic status were higher than other groups, but their violence score was lower. Conclusions: Total mean QOL, violence, and social support scores were assessed in the present study. Based on the correlation found between these variables, it can be concluded that women with HIV/AIDS require more social support so that their QOL, which is one of the main determinants of health, can be improved.