The evaluation of stigma, depression, quality of life and social support levels of HIV patients

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTİVE: HIV virus that has affected more than 35 million people worldwide so far is encountered as an important global community health problem. HIV positive individuals can be exposed to stigma depending on several factors. This condition reduces the social support system of individuals, leads to depression and affects quality of life negatively. The study was conducted for the purpose of assessing the stigma, quality of life, depression and social support levels of patients with HIV. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study which was planned descriptively was implemented with 40 patients registered to the infection polyclinic of a hospital after receiving an institution permit and a research ethics committee approval in May 2018 - November 2018. The data were collected using Patient Identification Form, SF-36 Quality of Life Scale (SF 36 QOLS), Beck's Depression Scale, Multidimensionally Perceived Social Support Scale (MPSSS) and HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (HASS) and analyzed in the computer environment using descriptive and parametric tests. FINDINGS: It was determined that the mean score obtained by the HIV positive individuals from the physical main dimension of the SF-36 QOLS was 77,03±16,66, mental main dimension 66,35±16,48, depression score 9,65±6,26, MPSSS score average 45,75±9,325 and the HASS score average was between 0,01±0,050 and 0,74±0,343. It was seen that age, marital status, accommodation, smoking and hospitalization had no impact on individuals' stigma, depression, quality of life and social support levels, whereas educational background affected quality of life. It was determined that stigma encountered in individuals had impact on depression, social support levels and quality of life. CONCLUSION: It was seen that HIV positive individuals were mostly exposed to stigma in the lower dimension of negative self-perception of the stigma scale; quality of life and perceived social support were affected and more than half of them suffered from minimal depression.