SPIRITUALITY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH IMMUNE STATUS, MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS ATTENDING ANTIRETROVIRAL CLINIC IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Spirituality has been recognized as a vital social factor influencing public health, particularly in the context of HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to assess spirituality and its association with immune status, medication adherence and quality of life among adult patients living with HIV/AIDS

Materials and method: This were a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Spirituality, CD4 count, medication adherence and quality of life were assessed among 412 adult HIV-positive patients a ending the an retroviral 
clinic recruited by systematic random sampling method. A correlational analysis was used to test for association between continuous variables. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05.

Results: There was a significant and increasing positive correlation (r =0.24, p = 0.001; r=0.49, p = 0.001; r =0.73, p = 0.001) between Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-being (FACIT-Sp) scores and CD4+ count. There was a positive but weak correlation between FACIT-Sp scores and the mean medication adherence (r = 0.36, p = 0.045, r = 0.25, p = 0.001). There was also a significant and increasing positive correlation between FACIT-Sp scores and the quality of life of the participants (r = 0.71, p = 0.001, r = 0.73, p = 0.001, r = 0.72 p = 0.001, r =0.69 p= 0.001, r =0.67 p= 0.001, r =0.74, p =0.001, r =0.71 p=0.001).

Conclusion: Spirituality was positively associated with the immune status, medication adherence and quality of life of HIV- positive adults in this study. Routine spiritual assessment is recommended as part of the healthcare services offered to HIV-positive adults.