Mansour Fathi; Leila Abdolmaleki; Sara Makki Alamdari; Seyed Hossein Mohaqeqi
Abstract
Background: Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience various psychosocial challenges, which negatively affect their quality of life (QOL). The current study examines the outcomes of women living with HIV (WLWH), who receive cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) for improving quality of life in Tehran, ...
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Background: Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience various psychosocial challenges, which negatively affect their quality of life (QOL). The current study examines the outcomes of women living with HIV (WLWH), who receive cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) for improving quality of life in Tehran, Iran. Methods: The design of the study is a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Sixty women living with HIV were randomly assigned into a control and an intervention groups, 30 participants for each group. A 10-session cognitive behavioral group therapy was provided only to the intervention group. The control group participated in 3 sessions without special training. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, quality of life was measured using Multidimensional Quality of Life Questionnaire for HIV/AIDS (MQoL-HIV) before and one month after intervention delivery. Pre-test and post-tests were compared using t-test analysis. Results: After 10 weeks training, the Mean±SD QOL score significantly increased in the intervention group. Based on covariance analysis, the intervention group had significantly higher QOL score than the control group after the intervention P<0.05.Conclusion: Due to the low quality of life among WLWH, CBGT can be helpful in providing psychological rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of this group.
Mansour Fathi; Maryam Abbasi; Maryam Khakrangin
Abstract
Objective: Although HIV-infected women in Iran face many problems, researches in this area are limited. This research aims to understand and deeply comprehend the issues and challenges of HIV-infected women. Method: Qualitative content analysis was used in this study and participants in the research ...
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Objective: Although HIV-infected women in Iran face many problems, researches in this area are limited. This research aims to understand and deeply comprehend the issues and challenges of HIV-infected women. Method: Qualitative content analysis was used in this study and participants in the research of HIV-infected women were using three supportive health centers in Tehran. 17 participants were selected through purposive sampling method. The data collection technique is a semi-structured in-depth interview. Thematic data were coded and interpreted using thematic analysis.Results: 6 categories of interview analysis were: "social exclusion", "job problems", "social phobia caused by stigma", "mental problems", "treatment problems" and “coping mechanisms”. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that HIV-infected women face many challenges in the individual and social field for the social reunion and to reduce their problems, besides individual empowerment, structural and social interventions are also essential. The results of this study can be used in the field of policy-making, the presentation of supportive programs, social services for HIV-infected women and their families.
