Daily living problems of people with haemophilia and HIV infection: implications for counselling.

: The advent of AIDS not only signifies the emergence of a new disease that affects hitherto healthy members of the general population but also highlights many unresolved problems of people with haemophilia, a life-long genetic disorder of blood clotting. Although HIV infection and the threat of AIDS has been a tragedy for people with haemophilia, the reported study shows that in spite of recent technological advancement in treatment, problems caused by haemophilia as such are still devastating for some severely affected patients. The ability of people with haemophilia to cope with their daily living problems such as chronic and acute pain, stress in the family, difficulties with unemployment and social relationships affects their response to HIV/AIDS. These facts have important implications for their rehabilitation and counselling and raise questions about coping with HIV/AIDS for other risk groups.