BackgroundQuality of life (QOL) is an important component in the evaluation of the well-being of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), especially with the appreciable rise in longevity of PLWHA. Moreover, limited studies have been conducted in Nigeria on how PLWHA perceive their life with the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Scale (WHOQOL-Bref) instrument.ObjectiveThis study assessed the QOL of PLWHA attending the antiretroviral (ARV) clinics, UCH Ibadan, Nigeria.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2008 that involved 150 randomly selected HIV-positive patients who were regular attendees at the antiretroviral clinic, UCH Ibadan. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic data, satisfaction with perceived social support, medical records, and QOL was assessed with WHOQOL-Bref.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 38.1 ± 9.0 years and the male: female ratio was 1:2. The mean CD4 count was higher in female patients than in male patients, 407 cells/mm3: 329 cells/mm3 (p = 0.005). The mean QOL scores on the scale of (0–100) in three domains were similar: psychological health, 71.60 ± 18.40; physical health, 71.60 ± 13.90; and the environmental domain, 70.10 ± 12.00; with the lowest score in the social domain, 68.89 ± 16.70. Asymptomatic HIV-positive patients had significantly better mean QOL scores than symptomatic patients in the physical (74.04 ± 16.85 versus 64.47 ± 20.94, p = 0.005) and psychological domains (76.09 ± 12.93 versus 69.74 ± 15.79, p = 0.015). There was no significant difference in the mean QOL scores of men compared to those of women, in all domains assessed.ConclusionHigh QOL scores in the physical, psychological and environmental domains may be reflective of the effectiveness of some of the interventions PLWHA are exposed to at the ARV clinic, UCH Ibadan (on-going psychotherapy, free antiretroviral drugs). Relatively low social domain scores may suggest ineffective social support networks, because PLWHA are still exposed to stigmatisation and discrimination. An improvement in social support for PLWHA, therefore, will improve their quality of life further.

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Background & Aims: The study investigated the relationship between objective and subjective nutritional status parameters and quality of life in HIV seropositive patients. Methods: Retrospective review of clinic records of 150 HIV seropositive patients at a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Nutritional status was evaluated objectively with anthropometry including body mass index (BMI), subjectively with malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) and subjective global assessment (SGA) tool. Data on quality of life (QOL) assessed with WHOQOL (Bref), and CD4 count were extracted. Correlation analysis and linear regression were done to investigate the relationship between variables, level of significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Only BMI has weak positive correlation with the psychological domain (r = 0.231, p < 0.05). MUST and SGA have significant negative correlations with most of the quality of life domains. MUST correlated with the following domains: physical; (r = −0.207), psychological; (r = −0.193) and environmental; (r = −0.132). While SGA correlated with the physical domain; (r = −0.2470) and psychological domain; (r = −0.337), p < 0.05 respectively. The CD4 count correlated with percentage body fat (r = 0.224), MUST (r = −0.186) and SGA (r = −0.192), p < 0.05 respectively, but not with any of the QOL domains. Weight, MUST, SGA, percentage body fat were significant predictors of the percentage weight change in 6 months. Conclusions: BMI has significant positive association with psychological domain of QOL.MUST and SGA have significant negative association with certain domains. QOL did not predict short-term weight changes, as did the current weight, MUST, and SGA.

Background: The responsibility of caring for patients with advanced cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is mostly shouldered by family members because of paucity of institutional facilities. There is a growing concern that the number of women needing treatment for advanced breast cancer is rising at an unprecedented rate in Nigeria.Aim: To assess the caregiver burden and its associated factors amongst family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer.Setting: The study was conducted at the radiation oncology clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted amongst 157 eligible family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer. The family caregivers completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire, which included the socio-demographic data, the caregiving process and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Logistic regression was used to identify factors, and ethical approval was obtained.Results: Over half (53%) of the respondents were males with spousal caregivers dominantly constituting 27.4% of all respondents, closely followed by daughters (25.5%) of the care recipients. The mean ZBI score was 29.84 ± 13.9. Most (72%) of the caregivers experienced burden. Factors associated with caregiver burden were previous hospitalisation of the care recipient (odds ratio [OR] = 3.74, confidence interval [CI]: 1.67 to 8.38) and perceived dysfunction in patients activities of daily living (OR = 2.57, CI: 1.14 to 5.78).Conclusion: Family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer experience burden of care. Recognition of this vulnerable population and the care recipient as a dyad is a sine qua non in mitigating the burden associated with their caregiving role.

Background of the study: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in both developed and developing nations. The survival of breast cancer is increasing in developed countries with improved treatment modalities, while still very poor in developing countries. In Nigeria, few breast cancer survival data are available. Research design: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Objectives: To determine the survival of breast cancer patients and possible factors influencing it.