Sexual orientation and quality of life of people living with HIV/Aids

A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out with 146 PLWHA in Teresina, capital city of the state of Piauí, in 2013, by means of the WHOQOL-HIV-bref. Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis.

Results:

There was a prevalence of men (63.7%), non-heterosexual (57.0%), aged between 19 and 39 years (89%). Of the total, 75.5% mentioned presence of negative feelings, such as fear and anxiety, and 38% reported have suffered stigma. With regard to the dimensions investigated, the most affected were “environment” and “level of independence”. Non-heterosexual orientation was negatively associated with quality of life in almost all dimensions.

Conclusion:

Living with HIV/Aids and having a non-heterosexual orientation have a negative impact on quality of life.

Descriptors:
HIV; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Quality of Life; Sexual Orientation; Sexual Minorities

	Sexual orientation				Total		p value^* * Pearson's Chi-square test.
	Non-heterosexual		Heterosexual		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Gender							< 0.001
Male	53	57.0	40	43.0	93	100.0
Female	07	13.2	46	86.8	53	100.0
Age group							< 0.001
19-39 years	48	53.9	41	46.1	89	100.0
40-59 years	11	22.9	37	77.1	48	100.0
≥ 60 years	01	11.1	08	88.9	09	100.0
Current affective relationship							0.091
With partner	45	45.9	53	54.1	98	100.0
Without partner	15	31.2	33	68.8	48	100.0
Education level							<0.001
Up to complete elementary school	13	20.3	51	79.7	64	100.0
High school or +	47	53.7	35	42.7	82	100.0
Race/Skin color							0.303
White	17	48.6	18	51.4	35	100.0
Non-white	43	38.7	68	61.3	111	100.0
Religion							0.763
Practitioner	25	39.7	38	60.3	63	100.0
Non-practitioner	35	42.2	48	57.8	83	100.0
Occupation							0.743
With occupation	42	42.0	58	58.0	58	100.0
Without occupation	18	39.1	28	60.9	46	100.0
Household income							0.698
Up to one MW	06	46.2	07	53.8	13	100.0
≥ one MW	54	40.6	79	59.4	133	100.0
Individual income							0.409
With income	47	39.5	72	60.5	119	100.0
Without income	13	48.1	14	51.9	27	100.0

	Sexual orientation				Total		p value^* * Pearson's Qhi-square test.
	Non-heterosexual		Heterosexual		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Practice of physical activity							0.580
Yes	30	43.5	39	56.5	69	100.0
No	30	39.0	47	61.0	77	100.0
Alcohol consumption							0.200
Drinks or already drank	52	39.4	80	60.6	132	100.0
Does not drink	08	57.1	06	42.9	14	100.0
Smoking							0.366
Smokes or already smoked	40	44.0	51	56.0	91	100.0
Does not smoke	20	36.4	35	63.6	55	100.0
Use of illicit drugs							0.241
Uses or already used	23	47.9	25	52.1	48	100.0
Does not use	37	37.8	61	62.2	98	100.0
Presence of fear/anxiety							0.027
Yes	40	36.0	71	64.0	111	100.0
No	20	57.1	15	42.9	35	100.0
Suffered stigma							0.996
Yes	23	41.1	33	58.9	56	100.0
No	37	41.1	53	58.9	90	100.0

WHOQOL-HIV-bref	Sexual orientation						p value^* * Mann-Whitney test.
	Non-heterosexual			Heterosexual
	Mean	SD	Median	Mean	SD	Median
Physical	57.8	23.2	56.3	65.8	17.5	68.8	0.018
Psychological	64.7	20.4	70.0	70.2	15.6	70.0	0.115
Level of independence	52.2	17.6	56.3	57.1	13.6	56.3	0.161
Social relationships	62.4	19.2	62.5	66.8	19.2	68.8	0.162
Environment	44.6	17.5	45.3	50.9	13.8	50.0	0.024
SRPB	65.8	22.5	68.8	65.6	23.6	68.8	0.998
Overall	62.9	20.7	62.5	65.0	19.8	62.5	0.483

WHOQOL-HIV-bref	β	CI 95%(β)	p value	r²a
Physical	-14.96	-22.41;-7.51	< 0.001	0.180
Psychological	-12.44	-18.99;-5.89	< 0.001	0.177
Level of independence	-7.93	-13.86;-1.99	0.009	0.104
Social relationships	-10.27	-17.73;-2.82	0.007	0.086
Environment	-8.12	-14.29;-1.95	0.010	0.056
SRPB	-7.00	-15.86;1.86	0.121	0.103
Overall	-10.25	-17.79;-2.71	0.008	0.145

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[1] CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Artur Acelino Francisco Luz Nunes Queiroz. E-mail: arturqueiroz@usp.br