A cross-sectional study on the quality of life in HIV infected goldminers on highly active antiretroviral therapy in an industrial setting in South Africa

This study set out to document quality of life in the industrialized setting of HIV infected South African gold minders who are on highly-active anti-retroviral therapy, by administering the MOS SF-36, and to determine which categorical variables impact on QOL in this study cohort. It also intended to promote routine quality of life measurements, as an index of programme performance, and to strengthen the case for widened access to anti-retroviral treatment. A cross sectional survey of 202 outpatients was carried out at the central clinic at the health service hospital owned by Anglogold in the Northwest Province. Scores of eight scales of the MOS SF-36 measuring different aspects of quality of life were calculated. Demographic and laboratory data were collected from a separate case report form and the clinic database, as part of the categorical variables. Results showed that more than 59% of all respondents achieved scores of 100 for all subscale domains, and that the only categorical variables that showed statistically significant impact was age, with QOL scores on the physical function domains decreasing with age. This decrease in function was thought to be more attributable to age, than HIV status, stage or progression. The sample population was noted to have a high level of health care, and exhibited both the well-worker and survival cohort effect, as a result of a stringent pre-employment selection, on-going occupational fitness assessments and medical boarding in the case of sub-standard fitness.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Public Health and Family Medicine

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Mngadi, Kathryn Therese

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Gwyther, Liz
• Churchyard, Gavin

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10755

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10755