Quality of life associated with clinical and sociodemographic determinants in the postpartum period of Mexican women living with HIV. A cross-sectional study

The HIV epidemic remains a major public health challenge, particularly for women living with HIV (WLWH) who face vulnerabilities during pregnancy and motherhood. Addressing factors influencing quality of life (QoL) in this population is vital for improving health outcomes and guiding public health strategies. A cross-sectional study of 75 postpartum WLWH was conducted between 2020-22, using the WHOQoL-HIV-BREF instrument and statistical analyses to evaluate QoL and its associations with socio-demographic and clinical factors. Postpartum WLWH experienced overall medium QoL, with the psychological domain scoring lowest and physical health and independence scoring highest. Nearly half reported poor QoL, influenced by socio-demographic factors and CD4 counts. The WHOQoL-HIV-BREF instrument demonstrated strong reliability, highlighting the multifaceted challenges these women face in maintaining QoL during postpartum. HIV/AIDS affects QoL in postpartum WLWH, with antiretroviral therapy adherence and optimal CD4 levels improving outcomes. These findings support including QoL as a marker of success in WHO strategies.