ASSESSMENT OF THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF RURAL BASED PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS WITH CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS IN NIGERIA.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the living conditions of rural based people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their clinical presentations

DESIGN

descriptive cross-sectional study,

SETTING

University College Hospital, Ibadan.

SUBJECTS: PLWHA on anti-retroviral therapy.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty PLWHA participated. The mean age of the respondents was 28.7 ± 8.9 years. Majority of the respondents visited had advanced disease (97%), were poor (75%) and presented with opportunistic infections such as oral candidiasis (92%), chronic diarrhoea (70%) and pulmonary tuberculosis (46%). Majority were treated for malaria (72%) and anaemia (61%). All respondents lived in homes predisposed to these opportunistic infections. They drink unsafe water and had poor disposal of their domestic wastes.

CONCLUSION

PLWHA visited lived in homes that predispose them to various opportunistic infections. Improved living conditions and economic empowerment will improve the health conditions of PLWHA.