Perceived changes and challenges in the quality of life of HIV infected individuals on ART: a qualitative study in Uganda.

Although participants recognised ART enhance their overall quality of life, it should not be assumed that ART provision alone is sufficient in itself to lead to a major improvement on the perceived quality of life among persons living with HIV/AIDS. Socio-economic constraints, issues around stigma and difficulties to maintain confidentiality and the challenges associated with a high pill burden lessen the positive medical effect of ART. Access to counseling and other additional support services may play a pivotal role in consolidating the positive effects of ART and in increasing the probabilities for long term success of ART programmes. Perceived changes and challenges in the quality of life of HIV infected individuals on ART: a qualitative study in Uganda Barbara Nyanzi Wakholi1, Antonieta Medina Lara2, Paula Munderi1, Charles Gilks3, and Heiner Grosskurth1 on behalf of the DART trial team 1MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS , 2Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and 3World Health Organization