Abstract
This study examined the link between formal employment and characteristics of the workplace (especially awareness of workplace
HIV policies and HIV status disclosure to work colleagues) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living
with HIV (PLHIV). The study analysed medical treatment and employment history since first being diagnosed as HIV-positive
among 554 adults, 55 % females, who had been on HIV treatment for at least 2 years in South Africa. Additional cross-sectional
data on HRQoL were collected using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) (QualityMetric Incorporated). Two
hundred and forty four (44 %) of the study participants (39 % and 49 % among males and females, respectively) were formally
employed at the study interview. Formally employed study participants reported higher HRQoL than those not formally employed,
as reflected in mean scores in the physical and mental component summaries of the SF-36 instrument. HRQoL was unrelated to
study participants’ CD4 count, viral load and duration since HIV diagnosis. Among the formally employed study participants,
27.9 % reported awareness of workplace HIV policies in their organisations, while 50.8 % said they had disclosed their HIV
status to work colleagues. The awareness of workplace HIV policies was associated with higher mental component summary scores
after controlling for study participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, but had no significant association with the physical
component summary scores. The disclosure of HIV status to work colleagues was associated with neither mental nor physical
component summary scores. The finding of a positive association between formal employment and HRQoL among PLHIV suggest the
need for facilitative interventions for employment entry and continuation among PLHIV for their wellbeing.
HIV policies and HIV status disclosure to work colleagues) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living
with HIV (PLHIV). The study analysed medical treatment and employment history since first being diagnosed as HIV-positive
among 554 adults, 55 % females, who had been on HIV treatment for at least 2 years in South Africa. Additional cross-sectional
data on HRQoL were collected using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) (QualityMetric Incorporated). Two
hundred and forty four (44 %) of the study participants (39 % and 49 % among males and females, respectively) were formally
employed at the study interview. Formally employed study participants reported higher HRQoL than those not formally employed,
as reflected in mean scores in the physical and mental component summaries of the SF-36 instrument. HRQoL was unrelated to
study participants’ CD4 count, viral load and duration since HIV diagnosis. Among the formally employed study participants,
27.9 % reported awareness of workplace HIV policies in their organisations, while 50.8 % said they had disclosed their HIV
status to work colleagues. The awareness of workplace HIV policies was associated with higher mental component summary scores
after controlling for study participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, but had no significant association with the physical
component summary scores. The disclosure of HIV status to work colleagues was associated with neither mental nor physical
component summary scores. The finding of a positive association between formal employment and HRQoL among PLHIV suggest the
need for facilitative interventions for employment entry and continuation among PLHIV for their wellbeing.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-24
- DOI 10.1007/s11482-012-9183-9
- Authors
- Willis Omondi Odek, Department of Sociology, King’s College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3QY UK
- Journal Applied Research in Quality of Life
- Online ISSN 1871-2576
- Print ISSN 1871-2584