Nwabueze S A, Adogu P O U, Adinma E D, Ifeadike C O, Nnebue C C, Ilika A L, Ikechebelu J I
Departmcnt of Community Medicine, NAU/NAUTH, Nnewi.
Niger J Med. 2012 Oct-Dec;21(4):381-6.
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by human immune deficiency virus (HIV), once dominated by infected males has become feminized especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of adults living with the condition are females. Positive life styles, belonging to social support groups and stigma-free HIV services by providers may have good impact on the quality of life of HIV-positive mothers. This study was aimed at assessing the determinants of subjective health status of HIV-positive mothers accessing prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi.
This is a descriptive study in which 288 consenting HIV positive mothers were selected using the systematic sampling technique. Data on demographics, life style, social support, contraceptive use and subjective feeling about current health status were collected from the subjects using a pre-tested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire.
The mean age of the respondents was 30.46 +/- 4.86 years. Majority (89.2%) of them were married while 55.2% were traders. A significantly higher proportion of the mothers on highly active anti retroviral therapy (HAART) (70.8%) than non users (29.2%) described their current health status as 'excellent' (p<0.001). Also a significantly higher proportion of condom users (99%) than pill users (1%) described their health status as 'excellent' (p<0.02). The same significantly higher proportions of 'excellent' response were given by subjects who engage in social support activities (p<0.001), who practice good feeding (p<0.01) andpersonal hygiene (p<0.01).
Access to family planning services and HAART, participation in support group activities and positive lifestyle practices tend to improve subjective health status and should be comprehensively encouraged among the HIV positive mothers.
由人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）引起的获得性免疫缺陷综合征（AIDS），曾经主要感染男性，如今已呈现女性化趋势，尤其是在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，该地区大多数感染艾滋病的成年人是女性。积极的生活方式、加入社会支持群体以及提供者提供无歧视的HIV服务，可能会对HIV阳性母亲的生活质量产生良好影响。本研究旨在评估在恩泽维的纳姆迪·阿齐克韦大学教学医院（NAUTH）接受预防母婴传播（PMTCT）HIV服务的HIV阳性母亲主观健康状况的决定因素。
这是一项描述性研究，采用系统抽样技术选取了288名同意参与的HIV阳性母亲。使用经过预测试的、结构化的、由访谈者管理的问卷，从研究对象中收集有关人口统计学、生活方式、社会支持、避孕措施使用情况以及对当前健康状况的主观感受等数据。
受访者的平均年龄为30.46±4.86岁。其中大多数（89.2%）已婚，55.2%是商人。接受高效抗逆转录病毒治疗（HAART）的母亲中，将自己当前健康状况描述为“极佳”的比例（70.8%）显著高于未使用者（29.2%）（p<0.001）。同样，使用避孕套的母亲中认为自己健康状况“极佳”的比例（99%）显著高于使用避孕药的母亲（1%）（p<0.02）。参与社会支持活动的受试者（p<0.001）、采取良好喂养方式的受试者（p<0.01）以及保持个人卫生的受试者（p<0.01）中，认为自己健康状况“极佳”的比例也显著更高。
获得计划生育服务和HAART、参与支持小组活动以及保持积极的生活方式往往会改善主观健康状况，应在HIV阳性母亲中全面鼓励这些行为。
