Quality of Life of Children with HIV Infection

Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is an increasing major chronic condition in Indonesia. Children with HIV infection are at risk for low self-esteem, as well as for emotional, behavioral, and social functioning problem. This condition may affect children quality of life (QoL). Objective To explore QoL of children with HIV infection and its related factors. Methods An analytic descriptive study was carried out in outpatient allergy-immunology clinic of Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Indonesia University, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital during July 2012-July 2013. Subjects were children with HIV aged 2-18 years old and their caregivers. The QoL was assessed by Indonesian Version of PedsQLTM 4.0. Results A hundred children with HIV infection and their caregivers participated in this study. The subject consisted of boys and girls in equal numbers, predominantly 2-4 year old group (40%). The primary caregivers were mostly biological parents (49%). The average age was 69.88  (SD 3.12) months old. Low QoL was found in 41% and 30% subjects based on parent proxy-report and child self-report respectively. QoL of children with HIV infection were 76.76+16.83 and 79.27+9.61 for parent proxy-report and child self-report respectively. Child self-report QoL was associated with age (r=0.332, P=0.010) and duration of illness (r=0.294, P=0.023). QoL was not related to sex, child education, economic status, primary caregiver, caregiver education, clinical staging and immunologic classification. Conclusion Low QoL of children with HIV infection was found in 41% and 30% subjects based on parent proxy-report and child self-report respectively. Child report QoL was related to age and duration of illness.