Background:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a chronic disease associated with psycho-social risks, including stigma and poor mental health. Concurrently, these can have a substantial impact on quality of life (QoL).

Objective:
This study aimed to determine the pattern of QoL among persons living with HIV, and to assess its association with depression, anxiety, and social support.

Material and methods:
This was a cross-sectional study among 209 respondents receiving care from HIV clinic of General Hospital, Calabar. Socio-demographic questionnaire, World Health Organization QoL in HIV – BREF (WHOQOL HIV-BREF), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and Oslo social support scale (OSSS-3), were administered to consenting clinic attendees. Alpha level for bivariate analysis was set at 0.05.

Results:
QoL was lowest in independence domain and highest in spirituality domain. Patients with at least secondary education and those with employment had a significantly better QoL (p < 0.05). All QoL domains showed significant negative correlations with both anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.05), while physical, psychological, environmental, and spirituality fields had substantial positive correlations with social support (p < 0.05). After linear regression, anxiety (β = –0.31; 95% CI: –1.37 to –0.62), depression (β = –0.46; 95% CI: –1.85 to –1.10), and unemployment (β = –0.10; 95% CI: –6.20 to –0.26), predicted QoL.

Conclusions:
Anxiety and depression reduce the QoL of people living with HIV. Social support, on the other hand, might be a protective factor. More research is needed to establish causal relationships.