Death anxiety as a factor in health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

We investigated the influence of death anxiety (DA) on multi-dimensional health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a Nigerian sample of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Using cross-sectional design and availability sampling method, we selected 201 out patients (men = 63, 31.3%, women = 138, 68.7%, mean age = 40.1, SD = 10.5) managed for HIV/AIDS in a Nigerian tertiary healthcare institution. Death Anxiety Inventory – Revised and Patient Reported Outcome Quality of life-HIV were used to access DA and HRQoL, respectively. The dimensions of HRQoL were treatment impact, physical health, relationship and cognitive domains. Result of simple regression analysis indicated that death anxiety predicted treatment impact domain of HRQoL. However, DA did not predict physical health, relationship and cognitive domains of HRQoL. Anxiety about death may influence PLWHA into more adherence with the treatment regimens and more satisfaction with the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy.