Outcome of Nurse-Led Auditory-Educational Intervention on Quality of Life of People with Human Immunodeficiency Virus with Hearing Loss within Kaduna Metropolis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: People with HIV (PwHIV) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) may continue to experience reduced quality of life (QoL) due to long-term complications, comorbidities, stigma, and functional limitations. Hearing loss is an under-recognised problem among PwHIV and may affect communication, treatment understanding, social participation, psychological wellbeing, and overall QoL. This pilot study assessed the outcome of a nurse-led auditory-educational intervention on the QoL of PwHIV with hearing loss within Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Methods: A pilot quasi-experimental design involving control and intervention groups was adopted. Eighteen PwHIV with audiometrically confirmed hearing loss and receiving ART in Zaria secondary health facility were recruited, with nine participants each in the control and intervention groups. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing physical, social, and psychological functionality of QoL pre and post the intervention. The intervention group received nurse-led auditory education in addition to routine ART care. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, least significant difference post hoc test, and regression analysis.

Results: Most participants were female, aged 48–57 years, had primary education, were unemployed, and had experienced hearing loss for less than one year. Physical functionality improved from no intervention to post-intervention, but the difference was not statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Social functionality showed no statistically significant improvement across the study phases. Psychological functionality improved significantly, with mean scores increasing from 3.2056 at no intervention to 3.9389 during intervention and 3.8944 at post-intervention, F = 4.069, p = .030. Age, occupation, and duration of hearing loss significantly determined physical functionality, while the selected demographic and clinical variables did not significantly determine social or psychological functionality.

Conclusion: The nurse-led auditory-educational intervention demonstrated promising benefit for improving psychological QoL among PwHIV with hearing loss, while physical improvement was modest and social functionality remained largely unchanged. The findings support the integration of hearing-health education, counselling, and referral support into routine ART services. Larger studies with longer follow-up are recommended to confirm these pilot findings.