Prevalence of Gynecological Related Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women Living with HIV/AIDS: a Secondary Analysis from an Online, Cross-Sectional Survey in China

Abstract

Objective: Our study aims to completely understand the experience of gynecological related symptoms (GRS) and the association between GRS and quality of life (QOL) among HIV-infected women in China.

Design: A cross-sectional, multicenter survey.

Setting: The HIV/AIDS designated medical institutions of seven regions in China.

Participants: One hundred and fifty-three women with HIV infection.

Primary and secondary outcome measures: Primary outcome measures included the score of GRS and QOL from analysis sample.

Results: Among 153 participants, 60.13% were asymptomatic, and 39.87% were symptomatic according to their self-report data. In the symptomatic group, 47.54% reported only one symptom, 18.03% reported 2 symptoms, others reported more than 3 symptoms. The most common symptoms were vaginal discharge (25.49%), followed by irregular period (18.95%), bad cramps (13.07%), vaginal odor (11.11%), and vaginal itching (10.46%). The mean score of QOL was 86.82 ± 15.53. The symptomatic group had higher score than the asymptomatic group on each domain of QOL. GRS were negatively correlated with QOL after adjustment for confounding factors. Correlation matrix of GRS and six domains of QOL demonstrated significant negative correlation with each domain of QOL, especially the most strongly negative correlation with physical function of participants. But the association between GRS and environmental domain was weaker.

Conclusion: These findings present the multidimensionality of common gynecologic related symptoms and highlight the clinically meaningful associations between GRS and quality of life among women with HIV infection in China. There is an urgent need to take measures to increase vaginal care and education in advance, delivered by trusted health professionals.

Keywords: gynecologic related symptoms; quality of life; symptoms; women living with HIV/AIDS.

Figure 1

Differences in six domains of quality of life between asymptomatic WLWH and symptomatic WLWH. The scores of the two groups are compared with each domain of QOL, and this reveals that the symptomatic group has higher score than the asymptomatic group on each domain. The symbols “a” and “b” in this figure mean that scores of different groups are at different levels and there is some statistical significance between two groups.

Figure 2

Correlation matrix of gynecological related symptoms and domains of QOL. It demonstrates significant negative correlation with each domain of QOL, especially the most strongly negative correlation with physical function of participants. But the association between GRS and environmental well-being is weaker. **p value < 0.01, ***p value < 0.001.