Quality of life and psychosocial well-being among children living with HIV at a care home in Southern India
Lang, T.; Heylen, E.; Perumpil, S.; Shet, A.; Perumpil, M.; Steward, W.; Shamban, E.; Ekstrand, M.L.
Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies 9(4): 345-352
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 1745-0128 PMID: 25987890 DOI: 10.1080/17450128.2014.933942Document Number: 625043
This study was designed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of children living with HIV at an institutional care home in Bangalore, India. The Sneha Care Home is a unique residence that provides educational and community support with a focus on physical, nutritional, medical, and psychological care for orphans and vulnerable children. Cross-sectional health measures and interview data were collected from 97 residents including 52 boys and 45 girls between 5 and 12 years of age (mean age = 9). QOL was measured with the Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0 (PedsQL) Inventory. Caregivers perceived children to have an overall higher QOL than was self-reported by children (total score 83 vs. 78). Our findings indicated self-reported QOL decreased with age of the child, while caregiver-reported QOL increased with age, suggesting a need to ensure greater psychological support for older children. Physical measures showed the children's clinical severity of disease remained well controlled living in this residential, values-based care home.