Archive | 2021
Chronic Co-morbidity and Self-management Skills Among Adult HIV Patients in Ethopia
Abstract
\n Background: HIV requires life-long adherence to treatment and diet, also to avoid chronic co-morbidity. Self-management is widely recognized as an essential part of care for people with chronic disease. We aimed to quantify the prevalence of co-morbidity among adult HIV patients and their self-management skills.Methods: An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from May to June 2019. We selected a total of 520 adult HIV patients, attending antiretroviral therapy clinics in three Hospitals in Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected at routine care consultations by nine trained nurses using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Result: The mean age of the study participants was 38.7±9 years. Prevalence of diabetes and Hypertension was 1.5% and 9.4%, respectively. Being older, overweight, and obese was significantly associated with chronic comorbidity. The total score of HIV Self-management was 42±3.92 out of 60. The least mean score (1.69±0.9) was seen in the social support domain of HIV self-management.Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was relatively low in our population. Self-management skills seem to be low, but many aspects of self-management are poorly understood in Ethiopia (low-income) setting.