Citation

Nair KM, Muthukrishna N. J. Psychol. Afr. 2009; 19(4): 517-529.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14330237.2009.10820324

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study documented the relationships among biomedical factors, psychosocial factors, health related quality of life (HRQOL) and suicidality in respect of HIV positive women in KwaZulu-Natal. One hundred and thirty three (133) women over the age of 18 years (mean age 32.96 yrs; SD = 7.28) participated in the study. Participants completed a Suicidality Measure (SM: Sheebhan, Janavs, Amorim, Janavs, Weiller, Hergueta, Baker and Dunbar, 1998), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MPSS: Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet and Farley, 1988) and the Health Related Quality of Life Survey--SF-36 (Ware, Kosinski and Dewey, 2002). Information on social/contextual variables including income, marital status, employment status, number of children was obtained. Participants completed two biomedical measures, CD4 count and time since diagnosis information. The findings revealed a compromised level of HRQOL in the participants. After controlling for biomedical factors, psychosocial measures did not explain differences in quality of life. Perceived social support was inversely related to suicidality. Newly diagnosed patients were less likely to think of suicide as an option. © 2009 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

Women; South Africa; Psychological distress; Quality of life; Hiv/AIDS