Quality of Life in HIV Positive Injecting Drug Users

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to present the research carried out to date worldwide on the quality of life of individuals HIV-infected through drug injection and more precisely to list factors associated with having higher quality of life scores. Before presenting factors explaining the impairment of quality of life, the first question to be approached is how to measure the quality of life of HIV patients infected through injecting drug use? Firstly, vulnerabilities related to the medical characteristics of the follow-up of this population are investigated. These include access to treatment, co-morbidities and immuno-virological characteristics or side-effects of treatment. Psychosocial characteristics are also examined including the various kinds of social support available as well as several types of negative life events – for example those related to financial difficulties or violence. Finally, patterns of drug use and treatment for opiate dependence are considered in order to understand their impact on quality of life. Quality of life and its relationship with mental health are also examined due to their reciprocal impact on the clinical progression of HIV infection. In conclusion, the quality of life of HIV patients infected through injecting drug use seems to be determined by a range of factors related to all aspects of these individuals’ lives. It is necessary to introduce a more comprehensive notion of care in medical follow-up targeted at those patients who are seriously marked by their history of substance dependence, by their HIV disease and by their personal life experience.