Abstract:
Background-: Very little is known about the quality of life of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV coinfected patients. In this study in Ethiopia, we compared the quality of life HIV positive patients with
and without TB.
Methods-: A cross sectional study was conducted from February to April, 2009 in selected
hospitals in Oromiya Regional state, Ethiopia. The study population consisted of 467 HIV patients
and 124 TB/HIV co-infected patients. Data on quality of life was collected by trained nurses through
face to face interviews using the short Amharic version of the World Health Organization Quality
of Life Instrument for HIV clients (WHOQOL HIV). Depression was assessed using a validated
version of the Kessler scale. Data was collected by trained nurses and analyzed using SPSS 15.0
statistical software.
Results: TB/HIV co-infected patients had a lower quality of life in all domains as compared to HIV
infected patients without active TB. Depression, having a source of income and family support were
strongly associated with most of the Quality of life domains. In co-infected patients, individuals who
had depression were 8.8 times more likely to have poor physical health as compared to individuals
who had no depression, OR = 8.8(95%CI: 3.2, 23). Self-stigma was associated with a poor quality
of life in the psychological domain.
Conclusion-: The TB control program should design strategies to improve the quality of life of
TB/HIV co-infected patients. Depression and self-stigma should be targeted for intervention to
improve the quality of life of patients.
