Qualidade de vida, religiosidade e adesão aos antirretrovirais de coinfectados por HIV/Tuberculose

Abstract

HIV infection is considered one of the main risk factors for people infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis to develop tuberculosis (TB). In a significant part of cases, the TB diagnosis is discovered at the same time as the HIV infection. This condition influences patients’ acceptance of the disease causing difficulties in treatment adherence, besides severe daily problems and affecting their quality of life, due to the disease itself and the stigmas that accompany it in society. Also, the importance of religiosity has been observed in quality of life and disease coping. Thus, the aim was to assess quality of life, adherence to antiretroviral treatment and religiosity among patients coinfected with HIV/TB. This cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was undertaken at a referral hospital for care delivery to patients coinfected with HIV/TB between April and September 2012. As data collection instruments, the Quality of Life Assessment Scale for people living with HIV/aids – short version (WHOQOL-HIV bref), the Antiretroviral Adherence Assessment Questionnaire (CEAT-VIH) and Duke’s Religiosity Scale (DUREL) were used. Data were analyzed with the help of STATA v.11, through frequencies, means and standard deviations. Participants were 74 patients coinfected with HIV/TB; 79,7% male, in the predominant age range between 30 and 39 years; 27,0% were married; 47,3% finished secondary education and a significant part (40,5%) was unemployed. The predominant form was pulmonary tuberculosis (71,6%) and 44,6% of BAAR tests came back positively. As regards quality of life, no lower level was observed, while intermediary levels were obtained in the Psychological, Independence level, Social relations and Environment domains. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy was inappropriate in 86,5% of the study subjects. Concerning organizational religiosity (OR), only 8,1% did not attend religious temples. What non-organizational religiosity (NOR) is concerned, 28,4% informed daily individual religious activities. As to intrinsic religiosity (IR), in the majority, religiosity influences behavior and personal decisions. In view of the findings, it is concluded that patients coinfected with HIV/TB show negative effects on their quality of life, adherence to antiretrovirals, and that religiosity gives them hope to cope with the disease. Thus, this study contributed to scientific knowledge as a means to promote a better quality of life.