Workshop with UNAIDS: How to define Health-Related Quality of Life of people living with HIV?

Event Report

On February 24, 2021, HIV Outcomes and UNAIDS hosted a Workshop to highlight the need to:

• Reach a consensus on the conceptualisation of health-related quality of life and the factors impacting it
• Break silos and look at challenges holistically
• Clearly define challenges and objectives in order to develop accurate metrics to measure progress and performance in improving the health-related quality of life of people living with HIV.

Around 50 participants attended the online Workshop, including UNAIDS and WHO representatives, such as Vinay Saldanha, Special Adviser to UNAIDS’ Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. 

The challenges identified range across the physical, emotional and social components of Health-Related Quality of Life, including:

•  bio-medical aspects, such multimorbidity, pain management and fatigue
• Issues related to the overall personal wellbeing, including mental health, stigma and discrimination– including self-stigma and blame
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Social isolation
• Denial of medical care