SELF-REPORTED PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH IT AMONG HIV INFECTED ADULTS ON ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR HOSPITAL, ETHIOPIA

Introduction: With the advent of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) are living longer with chronicity. Reduced physical functioning decreases quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS. Objective: This study was intended to assess self-reported physical functioning and factors associated with it among adult outpatients living with HIV and AIDS who are on ART at the University of Gondar Hospital HIV Care Clinic. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 313 adults living with HIV and AIDS from March to May 2013. The Short Form-36 physical functioning subscale was used to assess physical functioning. The physical functioning subscale was transformed to range from 0 to a 100 to make all values on same metric, and mean was calculated. Finally normbased scoring method was used to determine whether they have good or poor physical functioning. Result: Total mean score of physical functioning was 59.43 (SD=10.7). Among 313 participants, 191 (61%) reported good physical functioning. More than half of the subjects (61%) were independent in work-capacity. Two hundred and nineteen (70%) individuals were independent in mobility and 96.8% in self-care. Good physical functioning was associated with CD4 counts ≥250 cells/mm3 [AOR=1.84, 95% CI:1.02,3.31], excellent general health [AOR=4.14,95% CI:2.12, 7.07], absent or very mild bodily pain [AOR=4.04, 95% CI: 2.03,6.59] and high bodily energy [AOR=7.70, 95% CI: 4.32, 8.52]. Conclusion: This study found that majority of the subjects had good physical functioning and were independent in self-care activities. Higher CD4 counts, vitality, general health and level of mild bodily pain were factors determining physical functioning. This research indicates the need of designing rehabilitation strategies for people living with HIV and AIDS.