RESEARCH PAPER
Spiritual health and experience of suffering in patients with HIV/ AIDS in Shiraz, Iran
1
Department of Midwifery, Student Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
3
Community-Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
4
Clinical Research Development Center of Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Submission date: 2021-07-21
Final revision date: 2021-08-16
Acceptance date: 2021-08-16
Publication date: 2023-09-15
HIV & AIDS Review 2023;22(3):261-268
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the biggest health challenges in the world, affecting both men and women not only physical but also psychological health. The aim of this study was to determine whether spiritual health was effective in reducing the experience of suffering in men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS.
Material and methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 112 female and 112 male HIV-positive patients were selected at the Shiraz Behavioral Disease Counseling Center, using convenience sampling me¬thod. To compare spiritual health between women and men, demographic specifications questionnaires, i.e., Schulz scale of experience and perception of suffering and Paleotezian and Alison spiritual health, were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, with p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results:
There was a significant relationship between existential suffer (p < 0.016), existential domain (p < 0.0001), and total spiritual (p < 0.005) with educational level. Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between dimensions of physical suffer I and II with sex (p < 0.045) and age (p < 0.019). In addition, dimensions of suffering and those of spiritual health in terms of gender had a significant relationship with p < 0.005, except for religious domain and physical suffer (dimension I and II).
Conclusions:
Findings of the present study strengthen the importance of religious and spiritual health in the reduction of experience of suffering in patients with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, the use of spirituality as a strategy to deal with suffering caused by illness should be followed by healthcare providers.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the biggest health challenges in the world, affecting both men and women not only physical but also psychological health. The aim of this study was to determine whether spiritual health was effective in reducing the experience of suffering in men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS.
Material and methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 112 female and 112 male HIV-positive patients were selected at the Shiraz Behavioral Disease Counseling Center, using convenience sampling me¬thod. To compare spiritual health between women and men, demographic specifications questionnaires, i.e., Schulz scale of experience and perception of suffering and Paleotezian and Alison spiritual health, were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, with p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results:
There was a significant relationship between existential suffer (p < 0.016), existential domain (p < 0.0001), and total spiritual (p < 0.005) with educational level. Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between dimensions of physical suffer I and II with sex (p < 0.045) and age (p < 0.019). In addition, dimensions of suffering and those of spiritual health in terms of gender had a significant relationship with p < 0.005, except for religious domain and physical suffer (dimension I and II).
Conclusions:
Findings of the present study strengthen the importance of religious and spiritual health in the reduction of experience of suffering in patients with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, the use of spirituality as a strategy to deal with suffering caused by illness should be followed by healthcare providers.
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