Avaliação da qualidade de vida de pessoas com 50 anos ou mais vivendo com HIV/AIDS

Abstract

HIV infection and AIDS have important repercussions on the lives of individuals, in biological and psychosocial aspects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of individuals aged 50 years or older living with HIV/AIDS. This study is characterized by being descriptive and analytical, cross-sectional and with a qualitative and quantitative approach. In the qualitative dimension, a semi-structured interview was carried out to analyze the concept, evaluation and what influences the quality of life of individuals. The data were processed through the Iramuteq software through the Descending Hierarchical Classification (CHD) and analyzed through content analysis according to Bardin (2016). Quantitative information was investigated through the assessment of individuals on QoL, sociodemographic situation and clinical aspects of HIV infection. The collection took place through the HAT-QoL instrument and a script of questions that guided the interview, being analyzed by the statistical software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, generating the description of the mean, median, standard deviation and relative frequency. In order to complement the qualitative and quantitative dimension, the triangulation strategy was adopted. Thirty individuals (50% female) participated in this study, with a mean age of 59 years, a predominance of brown, single individuals, with complete secondary education, having an employment relationship with paid activity. Regarding the clinical variables. Most had an average time of infection of 16 years, knew how they acquired HIV, used some preventive method of HIV transmission, had some chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) and all used Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Individuals aged 50 years or older living with HIV/AIDS in this study rated their QoL as positive in both the qualitative and quantitative assessments. The HAT-QoL questionnaire had an overall average of 68.57, which indicates a positive QoL, with higher average scores in the domains: trust in the doctor, followed by questions related to medication and HIV awareness; and lower scores in the domains: financial concern and concern with secrecy about the infection. They related the concept and assessment of QoL in a multidimensional way, associated QoL with clinical, sociodemographic and economic characteristics, in addition to encompassing many subjective meanings. The main aspects that positively influenced the QoL of the elderly in this study were: financial/life conditions, self-care, spirituality and acceptance of the HIV diagnosis. Factors related to health conditions, living with HIV/AIDS and lack of affective and social relationships negatively influenced QoL. Thus, it is expected that the results presented may contribute to new studies, as well as support managers, health professionals, family members, the support network and the elderly living with HIV/AIDS on Quality of Life and the negative influencing factors, so that strategies can be drawn up for the implementation of public policies, with a view to qualifying the assistance provided, social inclusion that favors better living conditions and community engagement, in addition to promoting the empowerment of these individuals in terms of their potential to preserve their autonomy.